Montenegro and the European Patent Office sign an Agreement on Cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development Nik Gjeloshaj, State Secretary at the Ministry Ana Raičević, and Director-General of the Directorate for Internal Market and Competition Jasna Vujović, met with President of the European Patent Office (EPO) António Campinos, who is making his first official visit to Montenegro since its accession to the European Patent Organisation on 1 October 2022.

Raising awareness about the importance of patent protection is crucial for fostering innovation and advancing our economy. We are grateful to the EPO for its continuous support, and we look forward to the benefits that the new agreement will bring to our innovators and inventors, Gjeloshaj stated during the meeting.

Gjeloshaj expressed support for establishing a patent information centre (PATLIB) in Montenegro and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to further enhancing the patent protection system.

The EPO President commended Montenegro for its seamless integration into the European Patent Organisation and its progress toward EU accession, particularly the successful closure of the intellectual property chapter in negotiations. He also highlighted Montenegro’s significant steps toward ratifying the London Agreement and finalizing the Agreement on Search Cooperation with the EPO.

During the meeting, a Bilateral Cooperation Agreement was signed, setting out cooperation until 2028, with a focus on strengthening Montenegro's patent system. Key areas of cooperation include support for developing digital tools and infrastructure, as well as expertise exchange in patent search procedures. In addition, IT sector development and cybersecurity collaboration remain priorities.

Discussions also explored how Montenegrin small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups can leverage patent protection to expand into the European market and attract investment. The EPO introduced its Deep Tech Finder platform, a data-driven tool that connects investment-ready startups with potential investors, emphasizing the advantages of the Unitary Patent system, which Montenegro could utilize after its future EU accession.

The visit reaffirmed the EPO’s commitment to supporting innovation and business development in Montenegro, with a focus on reducing administrative barriers, improving the legal framework, and enhancing access to funding for companies with intellectual property.