For many years, Austria’s lacking innovative power was criticised by many. That has now come to an end, also officially: according to the EU Commission’s innovative indicator 2008, Austria has caught up heavily with regard to innovation and is now on position six within the EU for the very first time. As a result, Austria now takes up its place behind the leading group including Sweden, Finland, Germany, Denmark and Great Britain. The global leader is still Switzerland. But one factor of uncertainty remains: Austria has not been left out by the economic crisis. The forecasts by the research economists are continuously adjusted downwards.
However, one point remains clear, especially in this crisis: research and development form the basis for economic recovery. Investments in the future are therefore ever more important. This economic success can only be ensured with appropriate legal protection. Monopolistic temporary property rights offer an effective protection against smart competitors and shady copycats. Offering this protection is the mandate of the Austrian Patent Office.
The Austrian Patent Office is the national Centre of Excellence which provides the protection for inventions needed for the legitimate safeguarding of your interests, regardless of the levels involved. It is true that the central form of protection is the patent, but the modern business world also requires other forms of safeguarding new developments. In line with this, we also enable utility models and protection certificates to be applied for in Austria, as well as providing the protection of trademarks and designs.