Four candidates in the running for EPO Presidency

The European Patent Office has published the names of the four candidates who will be interviewed for the post of President, which falls vacant on 1 July 2010.

The four are Susanne Sivborg, Director General of the Swedish Patent and Registration Office; Benoît Battistelli, Director General of France’s Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle; Roland Grossenbacher, Director of the Eidgenössisches Institut für Geistiges Eigentum, Switzerland; and Jesper Kongstad, Director General of the Danish Patent and Trademark Office.

The appointment procedure is governed by the European Patent Convention (EPC). The President is appointed by representatives of the member states of the European Patent Organisation by a majority of three-quarters of the votes cast. The term of office is five years, and it may be renewed. At its meeting in October 2009 the Administrative Council will hear the candidates before voting on the appointment.

The term of office of the current President, Alison Brimelow, ends on 30 June 2010.