BNE Blog

The Future Looks Promising for European Patents

By admin

By Ariane Poulain

Photo by European Commission

Over the past few weeks, there have been positive developments concerning European patent systems.  Initiatives which support the completion of the Single Market and advance – rather than hinder – innovation, growth, and jobs are definitely to be welcomed.

The current patent system in Europe is highly complex, costly and inefficient. Whilst the intergovernmental organisation, the European Patent Office (EPO), provides a single procedure for granting patents in 38 European (EU member states and eleven non-EU) countries, this procedure does not supersede national legislatures. For example, the EPO grants patents in English, French and German but in many cases nations require further patent translations in their own language. The EPO does not have the power to enforce patents across all member countries because a uniform European patent system does not exist. As a result, to patent an innovation throughout the EU the innovation must also (or instead) be validated according to national policy. The business or innovator can opt to apply for a patent via a national system or through the EPO. Read full article »

December 6th, 2010 | Posted in Economy, Innovation and Skills, Regulation, SMEs | No Comments »

Can the EU get its act together on Energy?

By admin

By Eloise Nosworthy

Figure 1. Map of potentil energy network developments, by European Commission

The EU has always taken a strong stance on energy, but still has some way to go in seeing that translated into action at an international level. The foundation of the EU’s position is enshrined in Article 194 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which states that a policy should aim to “(a) ensure the functioning of the energy market; (b) ensure security of energy supply in the Union; (c) promote energy efficiency and energy saving and the development of new and renewable forms of energy; and (d) promote the interconnection of energy networks.” In addition, the EU has set itself ambitious targets in the Energy 2020 programme, which involves achieving a 20% reduction in emissions, a 20% reduction in energy consumption, and getting 20% of our energy from renewable sources, all by 2020.

These aims have to be understood in the context of a multitude of inherited national energy networks, some a throw-back from the Cold War.  Central and eastern Europe’s links with Russia are a case in point. In the face of such difficulties, the objectives set on paper seem ambitious and meeting them will be very challenging.  It is for this reason the EU published a document proposing to tackle the problem from a variety of angles, released mid-November. Read full article »

December 1st, 2010 | Posted in Energy | No Comments »

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