The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of India (IPO India) have agreed to renew their co-operation on patents in an effort to support innovation in both regions. The EPO and the Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral co-operation establishing a framework for structured work relations between the EPO and the Intellectual Property Office of India for at least four years. The aim is to support the development of the patent system in terms of service delivery and efficiency. Furthermore, the EPO and the Indian IPO also signed the first biennial work plan under the MoU. Through this agreement Europe and India are reinforcing their efforts to create new opportunities for innovating businesses that will be able to benefit from improved conditions for the protection of intellectual property in India. This will encourage European businesses to take their inventions to the Indian market, whereas higher quality patents are making it easier for Indian inventors to access the European market. Moreover, the agreement also aims to stimulate the promotion of economic development and the transfer of technology between both regions. The EPO has also concluded a co-operation agreement with the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry to promote the European patent system in India and to support technology transfer between Europe and India. The co-operation programme is being implemented through the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) which provides a platform for Indo-European co-operation on clean energy technologies and advises European enterprises on IPR issues in India through its IPR Help Desk. The EPO also signed a work plan with the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DEITY) of the Government of India, thereby establishing a platform for co-operation in the field of ICT related patent matters between Europe and India. The gLAWcal team LIBEAC project Monday, 17 November 2014 (Source: Asia IP Law)