JPO-EPO Examiner Exchange Program Held

March 25, 2026

From March 9 to 13, 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) held an ^*Examiner Exchange Program with the European Patent Office (EPO).

The JPO has continued Examiner Exchange Programs with the EPO for over 20 years, and this time conducted the program by dispatching its examiners to the EPO’s headquarters in Munich.

JPO and EPO patent examiners in two technical fields of batteries and mobile communication systems participated in the program. They exchanged information on search methods for prior art including non-patent literature, application of examination guidelines in day-to-day examination, and policy on assigning patent classifications. They also exchanged opinions on AI use in examination and classification assignment. Through these activities, participants from the two Offices successfully deepened their understanding of each other’s patent examination practices.

The JPO will continue to cooperate on patent examination with overseas IP Offices.

• Link to the Examiner Exchange Program page in the JPO Status Report 2025

* The Examiner Exchange Program is designed to foster a relationship of trust and deepen mutual understanding between the examiners of the JPO and those of an overseas IP Office and to promote mutual use of prior art search results and examination results through discussions on each other's prior art search methods and examination practices.

Participants from two offices

Exchange of opinions

[Last updated 25 March 2026]