Developments at the EPO 1996 to 2001

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Developments at the EPO1996 to 2001

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The Organisation

• Current member states
• EU (15)
• Cyprus
• Liechtenstein
• Monaco
• Switzerland
• Turkey

• Future member states (as of 1 July 2002)
• Bulgaria
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovenia
• Slovakia

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Applications 1995 to 2001
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Production 1995 to 2001
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Productivity 1995/1997 to 2001
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Granted Patents/PCT 409 1995-2001
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Unit Costs 1996 to 2001
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Preliminary Key Figures for 2001

• Applications 161 000 12.6
• Total production 198 400 10.2
• Granted patents 34 700 26.1
• Productivity (whole Office) 2.8
• Productivity (core products) 3.2
• Unit costs 1

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Reduction of backlogs

• Recruitment
• Automation
• Streamlining of procedures
• Legal measures/Agreements

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Reduction of BacklogsRecruitment

• Recruitment goals in 2001
• 905 New recruits (650 Examiners, 75 Support staff
  and 180 Administrative and other staff)
• Actual recruitment in 2001
• 500 New staff (340 examiners , 50 Support staff
  and 110 Administrative and other staff)
• 200 offers made (95 examiners, 105 support,
  Administrative and other staff)
• 210 vacant examiner posts

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Reduction of BacklogsRecruitment
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Reduction of BacklogsAutomation

• EPASYS/PIPS and PHOENIX improvements
• EPOQUE/Java and conversion to Internet technology
  of other systems
• EPOLINE development
• Conversion from Token Ring to Ethernet
• Enhancement of the EPO Internet Capacity
• More powerful workstation infrastructure and
  decision to move to Windows 2000 in early 2002

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Reduction of Backlogs Speeding up our procedures

• Streamlined PCT Procedure
• Implementation of BEST

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Reduction of BacklogsLegislation and Similar
Measures

• Amendment to Article 22 PCT
• Limitation of PCT Competence
• Amendments to Rules 25(1), 29(2), 51, 85(5), 107
  and 108 EPC

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Reduction of BacklogsMedium Term Business Plan

• Elimination of backlog for Euro-direct searches
  at end 2003, for other searches in 2004/2005
• Elimination of backlog in substantive examination
  in 2004/2005