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Working Together for Strong Intellectual Property Rights

The IP community from Germany and across Europe is gathering at the German Day event organised by the European Union Intellectual Property Office in Alicante.

Financial support from the SME Fund, protection of regional craft and industrial products, and dialogue on the use of artificial intelligence: Eva Schewior, President of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), highlighted the strong cooperation between the German and European levels at the German Day of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Schewior emphasised that supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in protecting their intellectual property is a key priority for both institutions. She noted that the EUIPO is doing excellent work through its SME Fund, which provides funding for applications for intellectual property rights. At national level, the DPMA ensures that companies can make successful use of the funding. The DPMA President also highlighted the strong cooperation in the fight against product and trademark piracy.

At the EUIPO German Day, which took place for the first time since 2018 following a lengthy hiatus, IP experts from both offices, patent and law firms, and the business community came together to discuss current issues relating to the protection of intellectual property. Another topic was the trend in applications in Germany and Europe. Last year, the DPMA once again recorded a sharp rise in demand for national trade marks – with applications from China, amongst others, increasing enormously. The experts also discussed how small and medium-sized enterprises could be supported even more effectively. Amongst other things, work is underway on instruments designed to give companies easier access to credit by allowing them to use intellectual property rights as collateral.

Pictures: EUIPO

Last updated: 18 June 2026