Austrian Patent Office names new president

The Austrian Patent Office has now found a successor to Mariana Karepova. Stefan Harasek, who has been managing the office’s business on an interim basis since July, officially took over the position of president on 1 December. Harasek is the 19th president in the office’s almost 125-year history.

Stefan Harasek joined the Austrian Patent Office in 2004 as a patent examiner. In 2016 he established and coordinated a group focusing on strategy, through which he helped the office target new demographics. He then became the Austrian Patent Office’s vice president in 2022, taking over responsibility for the entire field of inventions.

Furthermore, Harasek was a technical member of the former Supreme Patent and Trademark Senate. Following the senate’s dissolution, he became an expert lay judge in patent matters at the Austrian Supreme Court of Justice.

Stefan Harasek and Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler ©apa-Fotoservice/Lusser

Of his move, Harasek says, “It is a great honour and pleasure for me to be able to lead the patent office. We, all the employees of the patent office and I, will not only face the challenges of the future – we will also master them together.”

Big shoes to fill

Harasek’s predecessor, Mariana Karepova, moved to the European Patent Office in July 2023. She had held the position in Vienna since 2015, during which time she implemented a number of modernisations. These included, for instance, modernising human resources policy, promoting young talent and rebuilding the office for hybrid working with teleworking and face-to-face work.

Karepova joined the EPO as Principal Director for European and International Affairs, which includes advising its president, António Campinos, on European and international affairs. Previously, Margot Fröhlinger, who was instrumental in advancing the unitary patent and Unified Patent Court on the EU Commission side, held the role of Principal Director for Unitary Patent, European and International Legal Affairs.

Mariana Karepova ©Mirjam-Reither

At the time of Karepova’s move, the Austrian Patent Office did not have a successor lined up. The press spokesperson of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection said Vice President Stefan Harasek would manage business on an interim basis until the office could make a new appointment.

Leonore Gewessler, Climate Protection Minister, says, “Over the years, Stefan Harasek has proven to be an authoritative expert in all aspects of industrial property protection. He is known for explaining the achievements of the Austrian Patent Office, making them accessible to all and constantly thinking about the next improvement.”

She adds, “Especially now, shortly after the introduction of the new European Unitary Patent, the Patent Office needs a strong leader. I am convinced that we have found this in Stefan Harasek and I look forward to working with him.”

Too few inventors in Austria

One of the challenges for the new president will be to increase the proportion of female inventors in Austria. Just a few days ago, the Austrian Patent Office presented a study showing that in no other European country is the proportion of women patenting as low as in Austria. The office adopted a corresponding package of measures.

Austria is also a member state of the UPC. Vienna is home to a local division, which held its first hearing in September. But patent holder CUP&CINO was unable to obtain a PI for its technology for milk frothers against competitor Alpina.