Foreword
IPObel icon

The Intellectual Property Office (IPObel)

IPObel is part of the Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Middle Classes and Energy, and specifically of the Directorate-General for Economic Regulation.

IPObel is competent for all intellectual property matters in Belgium.

Get to know us!

Find out more
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numbers

IPObel in a few figures

1,207 Belgian patent applications were filed

1,005 Belgian patents were granted

61 applications for supplementary protection certificates were filed

47 supplementary protection certificates were granted

108,424 European patents designating Belgium were granted

2 applications for plant variety certificates were filed

1 plant variety certificate was granted

See all the statistics!

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IPObel’s financials

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Steadily increasing revenues

In its capacity as Belgian Intellectual Property Office, IPObel’s revenues come from the processing fees and maintenance fees relating to patent applications, supplementary protection certificates and plant variety rights it collects.
Find out how our revenues evolved between 2017 and 2021.

industrial property

IPObel and industrial property

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The Institute for Patent Attorneys

New in 2021: the Institute for Patent Attorneys, for even better advice and support of brilliant inventors and innovative companies...


Plant Variety Protection Council

Also new in 2021: the creation of the Plant Variety Protection Council, for an ever greater expertise.

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international affairs

IPObel and International Affairs

Auropean Patent Office_photocredit nmann77 via Adobestock

Belgium is one of the 38 Member States of the European Patent Organisation (EPO) and collaborates with it through IPObel. This collaboration has been further strengthened this year in order to continuously improve IPObel’s quality of service.


In 2021, IPObel signed the first cooperation agreement with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). This collaboration translates to considerable aid and support for SMEs.

EUIPO headquarters, Alicante via wikimedia CC Kristof Roomp
sensibilisation

IPObel and awareness raising

Site ideescan

Got an idea? Protect it!

You have a fantastic idea and want to prevent anyone from stealing it? In less than ten minutes, the IdeeSCAN online form indicates how you can protect it.


ThatsIP

ThatsIP is an e-learning tool specifically developed for higher education students and teachers.

This platform is also open to anyone who wants to learn about intellectual property.

ThatsIP homepage

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Awareness campaign for accountants and tax advisors

Accountants and auditors are often consulted as advisors by companies. To inform this target audience on the importance of intellectual property rights, IPObel has published a series of articles in ITAA ACctua.


Contact Point

In 2021, IPObel’s Contact Point dealt with 2,184 questions from businesses and citizens in addition to the 721 questions directly answered by the FPS Economy’s Contact Center.

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To contact IPObel

The Contact Center is at your service every working day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
It is the single point of contact to communicate with the FPS Economy.

Tel.: 0800 120 33
E-mail
 : info.eco@economie.fgov.be