"[...] Today many of the issues coming before the European Parliament have a scientific or technological theme. They may be proposals directly relating to research or innovation policy, or measures concerning the many ways in which science and technology impact on society, the economy or the environment.
[...]
The European Parliament defines its position on these issues through reports prepared by its Committees. If Committees decide that it would be helpful to their policy making role to seek out expert, independent assessments of the various scientific or technological options in the policy sectors concerned, then they have STOA at their disposal: the Parliament's own Scientific and Technological Options Assessment unit.
[...]
STOA is an official organ of the European Parliament, but its work is carried out in partnership with external experts. These can be research institutes, universities, laboratories, consultancies or individual researchers contracted to help prepare specific projects. These increasingly comprise round-table expert discussions, conferences and workshops with associated or consequent studies at which members of Parliament and invited experts from EU institutions, international institutions, universities, specialist institutes, academies and other sources of expertise worldwide can jointly participate in the analysis of current issues. [...]"
Hence, findings of STOA may well have some considerable influence on the position taken by the European Parliament. The conclusions of the workshop comprise, inter alia, items listed below:
Distinction per sector
Patentable subject matter
Patentability standards
Yardstick
Economic mission [in preamble EPC]
General clauses
Patent quality
Patentability standards: raise bar
Cost: reallocation of resources within the EPO[who carries the burden?]
Role EPO: widen approach on patent quality
Abuse
Tackle within patent law, not within competition law
Tackle on the national vs. Community level?
Re-assess existing remedies
Research exemption: Fit for current technologies?
Compulsory licenses: Efficient?
Alternative mechanisms
Within the patent system: IBM proposal
Outside the patent system: Should rewards take the shape of a monopoly? Other incentives
Actors
List of members advisory + policy bodies public
Patents
External audit check - Opening up the 'black box'
Transparancy register
Law making
Representation of 'outsiders' (users, scientists, consumers) patentable subject matter, ..
Ad hoc committee within European Parliament
'Feedback loops'
Examination: centralisation vs. decentralisation
(New) roles national patent offices
Jurisdiction: harmonization vs. equal access
Integrated European Patent Court, National designated courts
STOA Workshop on Policy options for the European patent system had been hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels. 