EPO and Monaco deepen ties on patents and digital services
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
European Patent Office President António Campinos met Monaco's Minister of Finance and Economy to discuss expanding intellectual property support for local businesses.
European Patent Office President António Campinos held talks in Monaco with Minister of Finance and Economy Frédéric Cottalorda and Director of Economic Development Julien Dejanovic, focusing on how the Principality's businesses and researchers can gain easier access to patent and intellectual property services.
The discussions centred on digital transformation and innovation support, areas the Monaco government has flagged as priorities for diversifying the economy beyond finance and tourism. For companies based in Monaco, particularly those in biotech, fintech and green technology sectors clustered around Fontvieille and the Condamine business district, streamlined access to EPO services could reduce the administrative burden of protecting intellectual property across European markets.
No specific timeline or new agreement was announced, but the meeting signals continued engagement between Monaco's economic development office and the EPO, which oversees patent applications across its member states. Local firms seeking to register European patents currently often rely on external counsel in France or elsewhere, so any streamlined cooperation would be closely watched by Monaco's small but growing innovation sector.