Moldova becomes the 40th member state of the European Patent Convention
Broader territorial coverage of the European patent system and a centralised procedure for designation in an emerging market country 28 July 2026On 1 June 2026, the Republic of Moldova acceded to the European Patent Convention (EPC), becoming the 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation (EPO).
This accession marks the completion of the integration process that began over thirty years ago and represents a further expansion of the area covered by the European patent system, which now extends to a total market of over 715 million people.
What are the changes for applicants and holders of European patents?
The main practical consequence concerns European patent applications filed from 1 June 2026 onwards. For such applications, Moldova is automatically included among the member states covered by the European procedure, without the need to rely on the mechanisms used in the past to obtain protection in the country.
The benefits
For companies, research centres and inventors, this change brings several benefits:
- access to protection in Moldova via the standard European patent route;
- less administrative complexity compared with the previous validation system;
- greater uniformity in the management of patent rights within the EPC area;
- an increase in the potential value of patent portfolios thanks to the extension of territorial coverage.
Although Moldova is not yet part of the European Union, its economic and trade relations with the EU market are particularly close, and the EU has for years been the main outlet for Moldovan exports.
The possibility of obtaining patent protection under the EPC system therefore enables innovative companies to more easily establish a presence in an emerging market that is increasingly integrated into the European economic landscape.
