MUNICH - The European Patent Office (EPO) this week hosts the fifth edition of the IP Executive Week. The annual event is co-organized with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and brings together delegates from a network of more than 60 IP offices around the world to discuss the latest developments in intellectual property. This year, the program places a special focus on the impact of technological innovations on IP and the administration of IP offices.

In his opening address, EPO President António Campinos underscored the fact that the global challenges for IP are growing, and highlighted the need "to make IP rights less abstract and more transparent and relevant, as well as more efficient and user friendly." Mr. Campinos further underlined that "the objective is to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the IP system within Europe and globally" because "we are all part of a network - an IP ecosystem. And we share many of the same users."

In her opening statement, Nellie Simon, the Director of the Digital Transformation Department at the EUIPO as well as Acting Head of Cabinet of the Executive Director emphasized that in terms of the developments facing IP offices, "Artificial Intelligence and big data are going to mean huge changes in the way in which IP offices operate - in fact it is already happening."

The IP Executive Week is a joint EPO-EUIPO event originally launched by the EUIPO in 2013 and takes place annually, alternating between Alicante and Munich.

Through plenary sessions, interactive working sessions and panel discussions, this year's IP Executive Week will enable participants to address recent developments in IP in Europe and worldwide, the impact of technological innovations on intellectual property offices, the ethical, moral and societal aspects of intellectual property rights, and the enforcement of IP.

The objective of the event is to enable participants to exchange ideas and acquire knowledge about the IP system and developments in IP office projects and strategies, network with peers in other IP offices, and enhance the efficiency co-operation activities.