CA/88/14 E CA/88/14 Orig

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

CA/88/14 E CA/88/14 Orig CA/88/14 Orig.: en Munich, 26.09.2014 SUBJECT: President's activities report SUBMITTED BY: President of the European Patent Office ADDRESSEES: Administrative Council (for information) SUMMARY This document sets out activities from the beginning of 2014. CA/88/14 e 142550013 - I - TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. PERFORMANCE 1 A. DG 1 WORKLOAD AND PRODUCTION 1 a) Filings 1 b) Efficiency 3 c) Publications 3 d) Time to delivery of the search products 5 e) Time to publication of the patent 6 III. Measures taken in DG1 to improve performance Quality and service 8 A. EARLY CERTAINTY FROM SEARCH (ECFS) 8 B. EXAMINER RECRUITMENT IN 2014 8 C. "ESPRIT DE SERVICE" 9 a) VICO for Oral Proceedings 9 b) The First-Line Customer Service 9 c) Praktika Extern 2014 10 d) Areas of Competence (AoC) 10 e) Reorganisation of Clusters in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Area 11 f) Examiner Career and Team Manager Pilot 11 D. UTILISATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT (UIP) 12 IV. BOARDS OF APPEAL 12 A. DG3 PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION 12 a) Boards of Appeal 12 b) Enlarged Board of Appeal 13 V. INTERACTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS 14 A. SACEPO 14 B. NATIONAL JUDGES 15 C. ARTICLE 123(2) EPC SYMPOSIUM 15 CA/88/14 e 142550013 - II - VI. IT ROADMAP 16 VII. BUILDINGS 18 A. NEW MAIN THE HAGUE 18 B. ACCOMMODATION PLANNING MUNICH / PORTFOLIO OF RENTED BUILDINGS 19 C. BERLIN 19 D. VIENNA BUILDING 19 E. SECURITY PROGRAMME 19 VIII. QUALITY 19 A. PD QUALITY MANAGEMENT 19 IX. HUMAN RESOURCES 20 A. SOCIAL DEMOCRACY 20 B. CAREER/PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 21 C. INVALIDITY 22 X. EPN 22 A. CO-OPERATION WITH MEMBER STATES 22 B. EUROPEAN PATENT ACADEMY 24 C. REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE EPO 26 D. EUROPEAN PATENT REGISTER 26 E. PATENT INFORMATION 26 XI. EPO AS A GLOBAL PLAYER 27 A. INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 27 B. BILATERAL RELATIONS 28 C. IP5 29 D. TRILATERAL 32 E. COOPERATIVE PATENT CLASSIFICATION 32 F. STRENGTHENING THE PCT 32 G. SUBSTANTIVE PATENT LAW HARMONIZATION 34 a) Tegernsee Experts Group - Plenary session of the Group B+ 34 CA/88/14 e 142550013 - III - XII. UNITARY PATENT 34 A. UNITARY PATENT PROTECTION (UPP) 34 B. UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) 34 XIII. THE EPO AND SOCIETY 35 A. CLIMATE CHANGE, GREEN TECHNOLOGIES AND STANDARDS 35 B. EPO IN THE MEDIA 36 a) ANNUAL REPORT 2013 36 b) EUROPEAN INVENTOR AWARD 36 XIV. CONCLUDING REMARKS 38 XV. RECOMMENDATION FOR PUBLICATION 38 CA/88/14 e 142550013 I. INTRODUCTION In order to ensure transparency and enhance reporting of Office activities to the Council, a comprehensive overview of the year just passed is presented to each March meeting of the Council. This present interim report thus describes the principal developments so far in 2014; the full account will be presented in March 2015. The Council meeting in June saw the adoption of updated roadmaps in the five priority areas – IT, Cooperation, Quality, HR, and Building. Together with the extension of the President’s mandate until mid-2018, the decisions taken in June have set the Office’s medium-term agenda, firmly based on a strategy of pursuing Quality and Efficiency. II. PERFORMANCE A. DG 1 WORKLOAD AND PRODUCTION a) Filings The first eight months in 2014 have shown a further increase in patent filings, driven by the continuing upward trend in the number of PCT international applications filed. At the end of June 2014, about 136 200 patent filings were recorded. This represents a temporary 6.2% increase over the corresponding figure of 2013, partly due to a surge of PCT filings resulting from the entry into force of the America Invents Act in March 2013 in the U.S. This growth will progressively adjust itself over the coming months with the expectation that the growth in filings should be around 2% at the end of 2014. CA/88/14 e 1/38 142550013 EPO Filings Budget 270 800 258.473 265.690 244.991 250 000 200 000 150 000 100 000 End June End June 128 194 136 198 50 000 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 The number of requests for a European patent (European direct applications filed in 2014 and PCT applications entering the European regional phase in 2014) amounted to 99 900 applications at the end of August, 1.8% above the corresponding figure for 2013. At the end of August 2014, the Office received 145 715 search requests (+1.9%) as well as 92 570 requests for European examination (+2.3%). This represents an increase of 2.1% in the workload compared to 2013. The share of the EPO as ISA decreased slightly during the first half of 2014 to 37.2%. The examiners' output reached 213 795 search, examination and opposition products, 3.8% above the figures at end of August 2013. CA/88/14 e 2/38 142550013 b) Efficiency In the framework of the Quality/Efficiency strategy, it is the goal of the Office to keep its overall staff complement constant while increasing its production in ways sufficient to manage the workload and maintain or improve quality. The figure below illustrates the continuing success of this strategy, whereby the number of Full Time Equivalent employees has decreased while the number of products produced by each FTE is increasing, a clear marker of the improved efficiency of the Office. Paid man years Products per FTE (FTE) 7 000 52 50,4 51 50 49,0 6 750 48,4 49 47,7 48 46,4 47 45,5 6 500 6 571 46 6 580 6 526 6 472 45 6 436 43,1 6 417 44 6 250 6 348 43 42 41 6 000 40 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Sep 2013 - Aug 2014 Paid man years, FTE SEO Products / FTE c) Publications After 8 months in 2014, the EPO published 42 940 European patents, which is 8% less than during the same period in 2013. Of the granted patents, almost 33% (+0.2%) were published within 36 months. Several factors account for the observed trends. There has been an increase in the search workload, which has a higher priority than examination work. PCT Chapter 1 workload increased by 4% in 2013, EP first filings by 8%, and National First filings also by 4% in the same year. The increase of priority products was above average (3%) and above plan. CA/88/14 e 3/38 142550013 Applicant behaviour in the grant phase is changing, with an increase in the drop- out rate after the „intention to grant“ notification and before publication of the grant, of about 1,3% (from 8% in 2013 to 9,3% in the last 12 months period). On the basis of 70 000 Intentions to grant issued, the increased drop rate driven by applicants’ behaviour represents about 1 000 publications less. Furthermore, in recent years re-engineering of the publication process led to shortening of the technical preparations for publication, which resulted in one-off increases in the level of published patents. Comparison today is thus against historically high levels achieved by one-off improvements. The Office took targeted measures in June this year in order to increase both the production of grants and speed up the administrative processes leading to publication. It is expected that the gap in published patents will at least partially close towards the end of the year. EPO Published Patents Budget 68 000 70 000 65 657 66 712 62 112 60 000 50 000 40 000 30 000 End August End August 46 725 42 941 20 000 10 000 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 CA/88/14 e 4/38 142550013 d) Time to delivery of the search products The duration of the search process is estimated by the age of the file expressed in months since the date of priority at the time the search report and written opinion are sent. Age in months at the end of the search 18 16 15.2 14 12 10 EP first filings 8.4 National 8 PCT (ISA) 6 5.1 4 2 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 Current 2014 Current in months 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 EP first filings 5,4 5,4 5,2 5,2 5,1 National 7,8 7,6 7,8 8,5 8,4 PCT (ISA) 15,6 15,4 15,2 15,2 15,2 CA/88/14 e 5/38 142550013 e) Time to publication of the patent The time to publication of the patent is measured from the date of entry into the European grant procedure until the date of publication of the patent: for the European direct application time is counted starting from the date of receipt, while for the Euro-PCT application, from the date of entry into the regional phase. This time measures the duration of the European grant procedure completed during each reporting period. The objective set out is 36 months from the start of the granting procedure. Time to publication of the patent in months 44.0 44.3 44.6 43.3 42.9 36 24 12 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 Jan-Aug 2014 The time up to grant decreased from 44.3 months in 2011 to 42.9 months so far in 2014 (median time). CA/88/14 e 6/38 142550013 The following table further highlights the key EPO core business related statistics. General EPO Statistics 15 September 2014 2013 2014 D 2014/2013 in % 1 Total European patent filings - May 128 194 136 198 6.2% 2a Direct European applications - August 39 682 38 884 -2.0% 2b PCT applications entering the regional phase - August 58 449 61 032 4.4% 3 Searches carried out (EPO level) - August 142 757 150 453 5.4% - of which European + supplementary + other 69 367 74 956 8.1% - of which International PCT searches carried out 56 147 57 379 2.2% 4 European examinations carried out (EPO level) - August 78 583 75 782 -3.6% 5 International preliminary examinations carried out (EPO level) - August 5 345 5 289 -1.0% 6 Oppositions (EPO level) - August 1 715 1 288 -24.9% 7 Total Examiner Products DG 1 - August 205 912 213 795 3.8% 8 SEO Time (Search, Examination, Opposition in '000 days) - August 429.7 444.8 3.5% 9 Technical appeals cases settled - August 1 410 1 521 7.9% 10 Patents published - August 46 725 42 940 -8.1% Pending workload search expressed in months of search production 11 11.1 10.2 -8.1% (EPO level) - August Pending workload examination/opposition expressed in months of 12 54.
Recommended publications
  • IP Strategies for Green Innovations - an Analysis of European Inventor Awards
    Centre for Technology Management working paper series ISSN 2058-8887 No. 2020/01 January 2020 IP Strategies for Green Innovations - An Analysis of European Inventor Awards https://doi:10.17863/CAM.48823 Pratheeba Vimalnath (IfM, University of Cambridge) * Frank Tietze (IfM, University of Cambridge) Akriti Jain (Centre for Society and Policy, Indian Institute of Science) Viola Prifti (University of Applied Science, HTW-Berlin) * Please contact the corresponding author for feedback: [email protected] Centre for Technology Management IP Strategies for Green Innovations - An Analysis of European Inventor Awards Pratheeba Vimalnath1, Frank Tietze1, Akriti Jain2, Viola Prifti3 1Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom 2Centre for Society and Policy, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India 3University of Applied Science, HTW-Berlin, Berlin, Germany Abstract To drive sustainability transitions on a global scale for a carbon neutral future, green innovations are needed. In this study, we are keen to understand the role of intellectual property (IP) and particularly, its usage by firms innovating for a sustainable future. Unfortunately, little is known about how IP impacts sustainability transitions. To contribute to a better understanding, we chose to investigate IP usage by award - winning green innovators. We study the winners of the European Inventor Award, a highly prestigious international prize, awarded annually by the European Patent Office since 2006. Among all 210 awardees, we identified 52 winners that we classified as green innovators. Our analysis shows that closed and semi-open IP, particularly non-exclusive licensing, are the preferred IP strategies for green innovations. The IP strategy preferences seem to vary across technology domains.
    [Show full text]
  • Unlocking Untapped Value, EPO SME Case Studies on IP Strategy and IP
    Unlocking untapped value EPO SME case studies on IP strategy and IP management EPO SME CASE STUDIES | FOREWORD Dear readers, A thriving SME sector is widely accepted as one of the building blocks of a compe- titive and sustainable economy. With ambitious ideas and innovative solutions, small and medium-sized enterprises are often attributed with injecting great energy and productivity into both traditional and new sectors. The EPO’s mission is to support such innovators, as well as the European economy as a whole, by providing robust patents and access to published patent information. But if the power of such IP is to be fully exploited, a better understanding needs to be created about how patent protection and information can be used effectively by innovative companies, regardless of their size, sector or location. The EPO has therefore produced this series of case studies to highlight how some SMEs are effectively leveraging the power of patents to help achieve business success. These 12 case studies have been put together to include a cross section of SMEs from across Europe, encompassing 11 of our member states, and ranging in size and sector. They provide comprehensive accounts of the different ways in which IP is playing an integral role in the development of some enterprises. The examples show how SMEs are using patents as a powerful tool to support their corporate strategy and even, in some cases, as the very foundation on which to build their business. For some, patents defend an SME’s technologies in a highly competitive sector, or help it to truly stand apart from other technologies in the field.
    [Show full text]
  • President's Activities Report SUBMITTED BY
    CA/44/19 Orig.: en Munich, 08.03.2019 SUBJECT: President's activities report SUBMITTED BY: President of the European Patent Office ADDRESSEES: Administrative Council (for information) CA/44/19 e 2018-5940 - I - TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. PERFORMANCE OF THE PATENT GRANTING PROCESS 2 A. WORKLOAD AND PRODUCTION 2 a) Search, examination and opposition 7 b) Early Certainty timeliness 8 B. QUALITY 9 a) User satisfaction 10 b) Quality indicators 11 c) Quality action plans 12 d) Quality management system 14 e) Asian documentation 18 f) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) 18 g) Patent procedures management documented by QMS 21 h) Streamlining practices and procedures 21 C. RELATIONS WITH USERS 26 a) User support 27 b) User events 27 c) Praktika Extern 2018 28 d) Pan-European Seal Programme 29 e) User feedback 30 f) Communication with applicants 31 III. SOCIAL MATTERS 32 A. SOCIAL DIALOGUE 32 a) Outcomes of discussions with social partners 32 b) Continuous dialogue with staff 33 c) Internal justice system 33 B. RECRUITMENT AND WORKFORCE PLANNING 35 IV. IT AND AUTOMATION PROJECTS 37 A. ITR DELIVERIES FOR THE PGP AND KMS 37 a) Delivering the digital transformation agenda 37 b) Improvements to current tools 38 CA/44/19 e 2018-5940 - II - B. DELIVERIES FOR OTHER AREAS 38 C. IT AUDIT 39 V. BUILDINGS 39 A. NEW MAIN THE HAGUE 39 B. OTHER BUILDING PROJECTS 40 VI. EPN 41 A. CO-OPERATION WITH MEMBER STATES 41 B. EUROPEAN PATENT ACADEMY 42 C. CO-OPERATION WITH EUIPO 43 D. REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE EPO 43 E.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Use the EPO Template?
    The European Patent Office An introduction to the EPO and the European patent system with a look at CCMT Enrico Luzzatto Senior Advisor, European Patent Academy, EPO, Munich Milan, 10-11October 2018 Contents . About us . Statistics . Granting and publishing patents . Quality patents . Patents for the public . Training and awareness-raising events . The unitary patent . Contact European Patent Office 2 Our mission As the patent office for Europe, we support innovation, competitiveness and economic growth across Europe through a commitment to high quality and efficient services delivered under the European Patent Convention. European Patent Office 3 Our history 1973 Diplomatic Conference in Munich 5 October 1973 Signature of the European Patent Convention (EPC) by 16 countries 1977 Entry into force of the EPC in seven countries Founding of the European Patent Organisation Founding of the European Patent Office 2013 Celebration of 40 years of the EPC 2017 Celebration of 40 years of the EPO European Patent Office 4 Seven founding states in 1977 Belgium • Germany • France Luxembourg • Netherlands Switzerland • United Kingdom European Patent Office 5 ... 17 member states in 1992 ... Belgium • Germany • France Luxembourg • Netherlands Switzerland • United Kingdom Sweden • Italy • Austria Liechtenstein • Greece • Spain Denmark • Monaco • Portugal Ireland European Patent Office 6 ... 32 member states in 2007 ... Belgium • Germany • France Luxembourg • Netherlands Switzerland • United Kingdom Sweden • Italy • Austria Liechtenstein • Greece • Spain Denmark • Monaco • Portugal Ireland • Finland • Cyprus Turkey • Bulgaria • Czech Republic Estonia • Slovakia • Slovenia Hungary • Romania • Poland Iceland • Lithuania • Latvia Malta European Patent Office 7 Today ... an area with some 700m inhabitants 38 European member states Belgium • Germany • France • Luxembourg • Netherlands Switzerland • United Kingdom • Sweden • Italy • Austria Liechtenstein • Greece • Spain • Denmark • Monaco Portugal • Ireland • Finland • Cyprus • Turkey Bulgaria • Czech Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2012 at a Glance
    Annual Report 2012 At a glance Changes Industrial property rights 2011 2012 in % Patents Applications 1 59,607 61,311 + 2.9 Concluded examination procedures 26,944 29,306 + 8.8 (final) - with patent grant 2 11,922 11,526 - 3.3 Stock 3 125,112 124,142 - 0.8 Applications Trade marks 69,124 64,313 - 7.0 (national and international) National marks Applications 64,052 59,849 - 6.6 Concluded examination procedures 71,321 64,860 - 9.1 - with registration 51,330 46,099 - 10.2 Stock 780,985 784,820 + 0.5 Requests for grant of protection International marks 5,072 4,464 - 12.0 in Germany Grants of protection 4,406 3,872 - 12.1 Utility models Applications 16,061 15,491 - 3.5 Concluded examination procedures 17,044 16,531 - 3.0 - with registration 14,230 13,978 - 1.8 Stock 93,266 92,255 - 1.1 Designs Designs applied for 53,081 53,862 + 1.5 Concluded examination procedures 50,790 51,993 + 2.4 - with registration 48,888 49,160 + 0.6 Stock 283,716 290,071 + 2.2 1 Patent applications at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) and PCT patent applications upon their entry into the national phase 2 Including patents in respect of which an opposition was filed under Section 59 Patent Act. 3 A total of 549,297 patents were valid in Germany in 2012 including patents granted by the European Patent Office with effect in the Federal Republic of Germany. Budget German Patent and Trade Mark Office and Federal Patent Court (per million €) 2011 2012 Changes in % Income 317.4 325.9 + 2.7 Expenditure 245.5 259.6 + 5.7 of which for personnel 143.3 143.3 ± 0.0 Personnel of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office 2011 2012 Changes in % Staff 2,699 2,527 - 6.4 Contents Preface .
    [Show full text]
  • Epi Information 3/2018
    ® Institut der beim Europäischen Patentamt zugelassenen Vertreter Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office Institut des mandataires agréés près l’Office européen des brevets ISSN 1434-8853 Information September 2018 3 18 13 The Rght of Priorities: Recent 19 Implications of the General 22 Dealing with Non-Technical Developments in EPO Case Law Data Protection Regulation Features before the EPO 16 PCT at the EPO Seminar (GDPR) for Detecting 26 Position Paper on in Bucharest Infringement of Artificial Client-Attorney Privilege 17 European Inventor Award Intelligence (AI) Patents in IP advice (UNION-IP) Cover: Balance (Inle Lake, Myanmar) This picture, photographed by Valérie Plasman (European Patent Attorney, BE), was part of the epi Artists Exhibition 2018 at the EPO, Munich Valérie Plasman alérie Plasman arbeitet seit 2011 alérie has been working as Euro- alérie travaille comme manda- Vals zugelassener Vertreter vor dem V pean Patent Attorney at Exxon- V taire européenne chez Exxon Europäischen Patentamt für die Firma Mobil since 2011. Living in Brussels, Mobil depuis 2011. Vivant à Bruxelles Exxon Mobil. Aufgrund ihres Wohn - she obtained a PhD in Organic elle a obtenu un Doctorat en Chimie ortes Brüssel promovierte sie an der Chemistry at the Université Libre de Organique à l’Université Libre de Université Libre de Bruxelles in Orga- Bruxelles and worked for Solvay as a Bruxelles et a travaillé chez Solvay nischer Chemie und arbeitete für die researcher before specializing in IP comme chercheuse avant de se spé- Firma Solvay in der Forschung bevor and qualifying as European Patent cialiser en PI et de réussir l’EEQ en sie sich 2009 als Europäischer Patent- Attorney in 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • CA/44/15 Orig.: En Munich, 06.03.2015
    CA/44/15 Orig.: en Munich, 06.03.2015 SUBJECT: President’s activities report SUBMITTED BY: President of the European Patent Office ADDRESSEES: Administrative Council (for information) CA/44/15 e LT 0289/150510001 - I - TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. PERFORMANCE 1 A. DG 1 WORKLOAD AND PRODUCTION 1 B. EFFICIENCY AND TIMELINESS 2 a) Search, examination and opposition 2 b) Publications 3 III. MEASURES TAKEN IN DG1 IN 2014 TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE 4 A. EXAMINER RECRUITMENT IN 2014 4 B. "ESPRIT DE SERVICE" 5 a) "VICO for Oral Proceedings" 5 b) New WiFi for oral proceedings 5 c) The First-Line Customer Service 5 d) Praktika Extern 5 C. CAREER PATH AND REORGANISATION 6 a) Team Manager pilot and Senior Expert Examiners 6 b) Director rotation 7 c) DG 1 Quality Action Plan and individual quality objectives 7 d) CASE – Conformity Assurance for Search & Examination 8 e) Reorganisation and activities of clusters in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) area 8 f) Areas of Competence (AoC) 9 D. PRIOR-ART DOCUMENTATION 9 E. EARLY CERTAINTY FROM SEARCH (ECFS) 9 F. PROCEDURES 10 a) PCT Direct 10 CA/44/15 e LT 0289/150510001 - II - b) PCT applications with business method-type claims originating from the US 11 c) Clarification of the concept of "added subject-matter" – Article 123(2) EPC 11 d) More flexibility in case of non-unity – new Rule 164 EPC 11 e) Earlier publication of Guidelines for Examination 12 G. UTILISATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT (UIP) 12 IV. BOARDS OF APPEAL 12 A.
    [Show full text]
  • European Inventor Award 2013 Brochure
    european inventor award 2013 nominate an inventor submission deadline: 18 october 2012 european inventor award 2013 message from the president Innovation fuels the European economy. In a world of constant and rapid change, driven by the competition about the best answers to the global challenges mankind faces, innovation has become the dynamo of our economies. Inventors support not only technological progress but also job creation and wealth for millions of people. Inventions improve our daily lives, our environment and our living conditions. The European Patent Office’s mission is to grant patents only when they are truly deserved, to uphold competitive markets for technology and to disseminate vast volumes of technical information through patent databases. The European Inventor Award was initiated in 2006 to honour the most outstanding achievements of inventors from all over the globe. It has also become a showcase of the very best scientists and engineers who have solved technical problems with ingenious solutions. The Award is a rare chance to put the spotlight on the men and women who have radically changed our world for the better. I would like to invite you to use this unique opportunity to see your preferred invention among the short-listed innovations presented and honoured each year at the European Inventor Award event. We all have a responsibility to secure a better future for ourselves and coming generations. Make a difference and submit your preferred nomination today. Benoît Battistelli President European Patent Office 2 european inventor award 2013 why a european award for inventors? The European Inventor Award recognises outstanding inventors from all over the world, from all technical fields and backgrounds: large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as academic and non-profit sectors.
    [Show full text]
  • Bekaert Researcher Ann Lambrechts Wins European Inventor Award 2011
    Press Press release Katelijn Bohez T +32 56 23 05 71 Investor Relations 19 May 2011 Jacques Anckaert T +32 56 23 05 72 www.bekaert.com www.bekaert.mobi Bekaert researcher Ann Lambrechts wins European Inventor Award 2011 We are proud to announce that Ann Lambrechts, head R&D of Building Products at Bekaert, has won today the European Inventor Award in the category Industry. Ann Lambrechts received this important recognition for the development of Dramix® steel fibers for concrete reinforcement with flattened hook-shaped ends. The construction industry welcomed this innovative fiber design as it opened up a world of new application possibilities. Ann's invention increases the bending tensile strength of concrete by 32%, and ensures improved anchorage for a better crack control and enhanced durability. Another advantage of the Bekaert Dramix® steel fibers lies in easy mixing and handling, which subsequently improves the installation efficiency and safety. Ann Lambrechts: “I am honored to receive this prestigious award, both personally and on behalf of Bekaert. I also want to share it with all colleagues who made this invention possible. And with the many business partners and research institutes who believed in this invention from the start, and who truly have their share in the award conferred upon me today.” Dominique Neerinck, Bekaert Chief Technology Officer: “This award is testimony to Bekaert's innovation drive, and to our company's talented pool of young researchers who are very motivated to develop the products and processes of tomorrow. They do not only do this for applications in sectors which are automatically associated with continuous innovation, such as the automotive and energy- related sectors, but also in the usually traditional sectors such as the construction market." About Bekaert: Bekaert (www.bekaert.com) is a global technological leader in its two core competences: advanced metal transformation and advanced materials and coatings, and a market leader in drawn wire products and applications.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2015 German Patent and Trade Mark Office Annual Report 2015Annual at a Glance
    Annual Report 2015 German Patent and Trade Mark Office Annual 2015 Report At a glance Changes Industrial property rights 2014 2015 in % Patents Applications 1 65,951 66,889 + 1.4 Examination procedures concluded 34,978 33,483 - 4.3 - published decisions to grant 15,317 14,795 - 3.4 a patent Patents in force at the end of the year 2 129,544 129,591 + 0.0 Applications Trade marks 70,681 73,658 + 4.2 (national and international) National marks Applications 66,616 69,130 + 3.8 Registration procedures concluded 66,337 65,676 - 1.0 - with registration 47,989 46,484 - 3.1 Trade marks in force at the end of 793,753 797,223 + 0.4 the year Requests for grant of protection International marks 4,065 4,528 + 11.4 in Germany Grants of protection 3,862 3,745 - 3.0 Utility models Applications 14,738 14,277 - 3.1 Registration procedures concluded 15,126 14,171 - 6.3 - with registration 13,082 12,254 - 6.3 Utility models in force at the end of 87,530 85,180 - 2.7 the year Designs Designs applied for 60,756 55,219 - 9.1 Registration procedures concluded 56,936 54,436 - 4.4 - with registration 51,848 50,748 - 2.1 Registered designs in force at the end 305,561 313,639 + 2.6 of the year 1 Patent applications at the DPMA and PCT patent applications upon their entry into the national phase 2 Including patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) with effect in the Federal Republic of Germany, a total of 600,498 patents were valid in Germany in 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2013 German Markpatent and Trade Office Annual Report 2013 at a Glance
    Annual Report 2013 German Patent and Trade Mark Office Annual 2013 Report At a glance Changes Industrial property rights 2012 2013 in % Patents Applications 1 61,356 63,158 + 2.9 Concluded examination procedures 29,379 33,088 + 12.6 (final) - with patent grant 2 11,531 14,083 + 22.1 Stock 3 124,120 124,432 + 0.3 Applications Trade marks 64,314 64,966 + 1.0 (national and international) National marks Applications 59,850 60,161 + 0.5 Concluded examination procedures 64,856 58,602 - 9.6 - with registration 46,094 43,507 - 5.6 Stock 784,857 789,589 + 0.6 International marks Requests for grant of protection 4,464 4,805 + 7.6 in Germany Grants of protection 3,872 4,824 + 24.6 Utility models Applications 15,528 15,472 - 0.4 Concluded examination procedures 16,529 15,521 - 6.1 - with registration 13,978 13,341 - 4.6 Stock 92,132 90,450 - 1.8 Registered designs Designs applied for 55,133 55,829 + 1.3 Concluded examination procedures 53,052 57,704 + 8.8 - with registration 50,229 53,232 + 6.0 Stock 290,537 297,132 + 2.3 1 Patent applications at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) and PCT patent applications upon entry into the nation- al phase 2 Including patents in respect of which an opposition was filed under Section 59 Patent Act (Patentgesetz). 3 A total of 569,196 patents were valid in Germany in 2013 including patents granted by the European Patent Office with effect in the Federal Republic of Germany.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2011 at a Glance
    Annual Report 2011 At a glance Industrial property rights 2010 2011 Changes in % Patents Applications 1 59,435 58,997 - 0.7 Concluded examination procedures 32,728 26,467 - 19.1 (final) - with patent grant 2 13,675 11,891 - 13.0 Stock 3 127,267 127,119 - 0.1 Trade marks Applications (national and international) 74,362 69,117 - 7.1 National marks Applications 69,137 64,042 - 7.4 Concluded examination procedures 72,139 71,318 - 1.1 - with registration 49,761 51,322 + 3.1 Stock 779,802 780,903 + 0.1 International marks Requests for grant of protection in Germany 5,225 5,075 - 2.9 Grants of protection 4,416 4,411 - 0.1 Utility models Applications 17,067 15,486 - 9.3 Concluded examination procedures 17,990 17,007 - 5.5 - with registration 15,237 14,230 - 6.6 Stock 94,537 96,096 + 1.6 Designs Designs applied for 49,091 52,585 + 7.1 Concluded examination procedures 50,430 50,785 + 0.7 - with registration 48,453 48,887 + 0.9 Stock 280,997 283,591 + 0.9 1 Patent applications at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) and PCT patent applications upon their entry into the national phase 2 Including patents in respect of which an opposition was filed under Section 59 Patent Act. 3 Including patents granted by the European Patent Office with effect in the Federal Republic of Germany, a total of 526,255 patents were valid in Germany in 2011. Budget 2010 2011 Changes German Patent and Trade Mark Office and Federal Patent Court in % per million € Income 301.7 317.4 + 5.2 Expenditure 236.7 245.5 + 3.7 of which for personnel 138.8 143.3 + 3.2 Personnel
    [Show full text]