The recently signed cooperation agreement between Montenegro and the European Patent Office, effective until 2028, aims to enhance the Montenegrin patent system.

The Ministry of Economic Development stated that key areas of collaboration will include assistance in developing digital tools and infrastructure, as well as sharing expertise in patent search processes.

Additionally, advancing the IT sector and collaborating on information security will remain top priorities.

The bilateral agreement was signed during a meeting attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development, Niko Đeljošaj, State Secretary at the Ministry, Ana Raičević, and Director General of the Directorate for Internal Market and Competition, Jasna Vujović, alongside President of the European Patent Office, Antonio Kampinos.

This marks Kampinos’s first official visit to Montenegro since the country joined the European Patent Organization on October 1, 2022.

“Increasing awareness regarding patent protection is essential for promoting innovation and enhancing our economy. We appreciate the ongoing support from the EPO and anticipate the benefits this new agreement will offer our innovators and inventors,” stated Đeljošaj during the meeting.

Đeljošaj supported the proposal to establish a patent information center (patlib) in Montenegro, reaffirming his commitment to improving the patent protection system further.

Kampinos commended Montenegro for its smooth integration into the European Patent Organization and its progress toward EU accession, particularly the successful closure of the intellectual property chapter in the negotiations.

He also noted Montenegro’s significant advancement in ratifying the London Agreement and finalizing the Agreement on Cooperation in Searches with the EPO.

The Ministry indicated that discussions also revolved around how Montenegrin small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as start-ups, can leverage patent protection to expand in the European market and draw investments. The EPO introduced its Deep Tech Finder platform, which utilizes data to connect investment-ready start-ups with potential investors, and emphasized the benefits of the unitary patent system that Montenegro could access upon EU accession.

“The visit reaffirmed the EPO’s commitment to fostering innovation and business development in Montenegro, focusing on minimizing administrative barriers, enhancing the legal framework, and improving access to funding for companies that hold intellectual property,” concluded the statement.

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