8 October 2019

EPO President António Campinos and the Director General of the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), Dato' Mohd. Roslan bin Mahayudin, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Reinforced Partnership between their two offices on the margins of the WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva yesterday. The agreement follows on from longstanding co-operation between Europe and Malaysia in the field of patents going back to the 1990s.

MyIPO is the first intellectual property office in Southeast Asia to sign this advanced type of bilateral co-operation agreement with the EPO, and the fourth office worldwide to date, following the recent signature of agreements with the offices of South Africa, Ethiopia and Argentina.

"I am very pleased to conclude this reinforced partnership with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia, a close co-operation partner for many years and one of the most advanced IP offices in the dynamic ASEAN region," said EPO President Campinos. "Our co-operation is expected to improve patent-related services for both local innovators and European companies, not just in Malaysia but in the wider region, thereby further strengthening the global patent system, which is one of our strategic objectives for the coming years."

"On behalf of the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the EPO for the continuous support and technical assistance given to our patent examiners over the years," said MyIPO Director General Dato' Mohd Roslan Mahayudin. "Our commitment in optimising our delivery system remains the utmost priority despite the current challenges of the new emerging technologies in this era of 4th Industrial Revolution. With the reputation and credibility of the EPO, I am of the firmest belief that this continued co-operation will be successful in achieving a high standard patent examination system that meets global requirements for mutual prosperity."

Under the MoU, the EPO and MyIPO will co-operate over the next five years on making their patent systems as efficient, user-friendly and predictable as possible for businesses from both regions. In particular, the EPO will support MyIPO in increasing efficiency, timeliness and quality in its patent grant process with a view to promoting investment and technology transfer between Europe and Malaysia. By systematically and effectively using EPO work products, tools and practices, MyIPO will strengthen its search and examination capacities to ensure a high quality, timely and efficient examination of both national first and second filings.

Malaysia is one of the 10 member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the third largest economy in the region in terms of GDP, and the EU's third largest trading partner among the ASEAN countries. The region has some 640 million consumers and ranks as the eighth economy in the world. As a group the ASEAN countries are the EU's third largest trading partner outside Europe, after the US and China. Ensuring better access for European exporters to the dynamic ASEAN market is a priority for the EPO and its member states.

About Reinforced Partnership

The EPO's Reinforced Partnership programme seeks to establish deep and wide-ranging long-term partnerships with the intellectual property offices of the world's emerging innovation hubs. The aim is to further integrate and strengthen the global patent system by extending the network of partner offices that increase their capacities, productivity and quality through the systematic utilisation of EPO work products, tools and practices. The programme provides improved conditions for applicants filing patents internationally via the EPO and the PCT, and fosters innovation by supporting the partner offices in providing improved localised services.

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