EPO 2025 Review: Record Patent Applications and AI-Enhanced Examination Efficiency
歐洲專利局（EPO）於2026年6月底發布「2025年度回顧」報告，說明「2028戰略計畫」（Strategic Plan 2028）在人才招募與培訓、數位轉型與人工智慧應用、專利審查品質與案件處理時效、深化會員國及國際合作，以及財務永續等五大面向的進展，並以永續發展為主要目標。 回顧報告指出，2025年歐洲發明專利申請量首次突破20萬件，專利審查與核准程序中的人均業務產出亦創新高，較2024年提高3.7%。同時，EPO逐步地將人工智慧(AI)導入審查工具及線上服務，但強調最終決策仍由審查人員負責，並持續推動歐洲單一專利制度、深化會員國交流及國際合作。
WISECODE Take
The European Patent Office's adoption of AI-assisted examination is often misunderstood as a move toward automated patent approvals or relaxed standards. Much like computer-assisted refereeing in sports, technology only shortens replay review times, while the final whistle remains strictly with the human referee. According to the EPO's 2025 Annual Review released in late June 2026, European patent applications surpassed 200,000 for the first time. Facing immense workload, the office leveraged AI tools like PreSearch to boost efficiency, not to lower thresholds. This change has zero impact on businesses with no plans for the European market. However, for those aiming for Europe, AI-driven precision means marginal applications will face tougher scrutiny. Our patent portfolio health check service helps businesses conduct rigorous prior art searches before filing to mitigate rejection risks. We recommend two immediate actions. First, utilize official tools like the Deep Tech Finder and the Fee Assistant to check eligibility for SME discounts. Second, expand international literature searches early in R&D, as AI-assisted examiners can now easily retrieve cross-lingual prior art to challenge novelty.
Original sources
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