Today the European Patent Office (EPO) updated its Quality dashboard to reflect quality audit figures from the third quarter of 2026.

Search KPIs

The quality of search remains high and is reflected by the 24-month rolling average, with 93.1% of audited searches having no findings related to novelty, inventive step or added subject-matter.

Examination KPIs

The quality of examination also remains high, as 88.6% of audited grants had no findings potentially affecting their validity, meaning no findings related to novelty, inventive step or added subject-matter in the independent claims.

Findings related to the incorrect assessment of novelty or inventive step in the grant process were at 6.3%, compared to 9.5% in 2022 (as reported in the Quality Report 2022).

More on the Quality dashboard

Launched in March 2024, the Quality dashboard fosters transparency by delivering regular updates on quality standards and user satisfaction. By presenting essential key performance indicators (KPIs), it provides stakeholders with a clear and comprehensive overview of quality in the EPO’s patent granting process. The dashboard builds on the annual Quality Action Plan, which defines targeted actions aimed at enhancing the quality of the EPO’s products and services.

Source：European Patent Office (EPO) News；2026-10-13；https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/quality-dashboard-quarterly-update-4