In 2025, in well-established tradition, we continued the particularly close cooperation with Japan. The DPMA received several Japanese delegations and professional visitors to an in-depth exchange on IP. A delegation of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) visited us to learn more about the latest advancements in our office; in subsequent discussions, current topics were addressed in detail. In April, the focus was also on a professional dialogue when two representatives of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) visited the DPMA and spoke about artificial intelligence and machine translations. In return, the experts of the DPMA presented their current developments. The following discussion considered both challenges and opportunities of AI as well as its impact on patent offices.
Furthermore, during the course of the year, the DPMA welcomed several representatives of Japanese applicants as well as Japanese patent attorneys in Munich. They gained insight into the duties, organisation and current developments of the office, with the meetings being shaped by intensive exchanges and constructive questions. A delegation from the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) once again visited our office, too: in November, they were given a presentation on the way we work, the current application numbers and the latest developments. In addition, they gained insight into search and examination methods and into the training of patent examiners.
For more than 20 years now, there has been an exchange of patent examiners with the JPO. The resulting face-to-face exchange is very beneficial to all parties involved and cannot be replaced by virtual meetings. Three Japanese patent examiners visited the DPMA in December. In a number of lectures, for example on international cooperation, artificial intelligence and quality management, both offices gained experience and insight into how the other office works. Furthermore, the examiners exchanged views and information on parallel applications in the field of medical technology beyond the respective examination practice.
In late April, a delegation of judges from Romania visited the DPMA under the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) scheme of the European Union, which aims to promote the exchange on expert knowledge in the public sector among EU member states.
During their visit, the judges were provided with an overview of the DPMA, patent infringements and enforcement, IP protection and prosecution in IP proceedings. After the presentations, the visitors discussed several topics in person with experts of the DPMA.
On 7 May, DPMA Vice-President Dr Maria Skottke-Klein, received a delegation of eight representatives of the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO) and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. The delegation was led by two Deputy Directors of UANIPIO, Ms Liubov Maidanyk and Mr Mykola Pototskyi.
The meeting took place as part of the international cooperation project “TIPSTER” (Trade, Intellectual Property Support and Technical Regulation). The objective of the project is to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine and devise a national export strategy. It is funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and supported by the DPMA.
The visit focused especially on the rapprochement of Ukraine towards the European Union. During the ongoing accession negotiations, the harmonisation of Ukrainian law with EU law is becoming more and more important, in particular with respect to IP. Specialist departments of the DPMA provided detailed insight into the legal situation in Germany. Lively discussions ensued, new contacts were made and the DPMA and its visitors agreed to continue their close collaboration. The DPMA Vice-President emphasised how important the visit was, asserting that the DPMA would also remain available as a contact point after the visit.
On 30 April 2025, DPMA President Eva Schewior and Vice-President Dr Maria Skottke-Klein met the Commissioner (head) of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Kim Wan Ki, for an expert exchange.
The talks centred on current topics such as the use of AI in patent procedures, the examination guidelines for AI-related inventions and the further enhancement of the cooperation. For example, the Korean office envisages an accelerated examination of AI-related applications.
The resumption of the patent examiner exchange after the COVID-19 pandemic was also discussed. Furthermore, it is planned to afford the opportunity to participate in an exchange not only to experts from the patent area, but also from other areas, such as information technology.
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two offices agreed on the future activities they want to undertake jointly. By signing the memorandum, the two offices confirmed their intention to improve the services for users and intensify the regular exchange of information.
This was already the second meeting of the senior management in just a year, which emphasises the close and friendly partnership between the two offices.
The “Gulf Information Technology Exhibition” (GITEX) Europe is the European part of the trade fair series from Dubai. Its organisers intend to make it Europe’s most important meeting of technology pioneers, start-ups, industry leaders and innovators, who will shape the future of digital transformation.
DPMA President Eva Schewior participated in the panel discussion “IP: The New Global Currency of Economic Growth?”. Other participants were Adam Williams (CEO of the Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom) and Gilles Requena (Chief Patent Research and Policy Officer at the European Patent Office).
The discussion revolved around strategies and initiatives to make IP rights more accessible. The speakers also stressed the importance of IP protection, in particular for key technologies. DPMA President Schewior commented on the legal situation concerning the examination of computer-implemented inventions in Germany.
In addition, it was discussed which benefits IP rights offer small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups and how the respective offices support such enterprises.
Ms Schewior referred to the DPMA’s duty to provide the public with information about IP rights, emphasising that the protection of innovations was crucial for the competitiveness of technology-oriented businesses and thus an investment in the future. At an exhibition stand, colleagues informed visitors about the duties and services of the DPMA in the IP system.
In early July, the DPMA’s senior management participated in the WIPO Assemblies of the IP offices in Geneva. On the margins of the assemblies, DPMA President Eva Schewior had top-level talks with the heads of the patent offices of the United States of America, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Israel and Ukraine. The talks focused on the challenges all patent offices worldwide face, including the digitisation of the offices, the modernisation of the IT systems and the recruitment of skilled personnel. It was agreed to intensify collaboration and the exchange of experience.
Furthermore, DPMA President Schewior met Nikola Gillhoff, the German Ambassador to the United Nations, and Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO.
The meeting addressed, among other topics, the DPMA’s partnership with WIPO Green, WIPO’s international platform for the exchange of green technologies. By joining WIPO Green, the DPMA contributes to the global efforts to support companies, organisations and individuals in identifying innovative green technologies. WIPO Green is an important instrument to tackle the challenges of the global climate change.
The German Patent and Trade Mark Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) work closely together on many levels. By visiting the EUIPO, DPMA President Eva Schewior strengthened the relationships further. Sven Stürmann, President of the Boards of Appeal of the EUIPO, also took part in the meeting in November 2025 with João Negrão, Executive Director of the EUIPO.
Ms Schewior and Mr Negrão mainly discussed the development of trade mark and design applications in Germany and Europe. In particular, there was a significant increase in trade mark applications in 2025. They also discussed ways to facilitate examination procedures through artificial intelligence. EUIPO experts showed the delegation from Germany a specifically equipped room for the testing and development of AI applications, since the DPMA participates in the corresponding cooperation project with the EUIPO.
The collaboration between the DPMA and the EUIPO is also close in other European working groups. The aim is to harmonise the legal framework and the examination practice in the EU single market (convergence). The heads of offices also talked about the support and funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the protection of their intellectual property. The DPMA President thanked the EUIPO for its excellent management of the SME Fund, from which grants for IP applications are provided, and advocated further support for SMEs.
For more information on our international collaborations, please go to our website.