CSP – Candidate Support Programme
Supporting the next generation of patent professionals in Europe
The Candidate Support Programme (CSP) is a key initiative of the European Patent Office in co-operation with European Patent Organisation (EPOrg) member states. It aims to foster a more inclusive, skilled and balanced patent profession across Europe.
In line with the Strategic Plan 2028, the CSP contributes to several strategic priorities:
- Quality at source: by increasing the number of EQE-qualified professionals
- Gender parity: by creating more opportunities for women to thrive in the patent profession
- Increasing impact: the fully digital format broadens outreach and improves the accessibility of patent professional qualification and certification across member states
- Community development: by building a network of CSP alumni within the new generation of IP professionals, who in turn contribute to the programme
Support provided by CSP
Selected candidates will receive a comprehensive support package, with the aim of enabling them to pass all five papers of the EQE or all four modules of the EPAC. The package combines high-quality training, coaching for EQE candidates, tutoring for EPAC candidates, full coverage of exam fees and training materials as well as a financial bursary during key preparation months.
Eligibility and selection
The fully digital programme is open to candidates who reside and are employed in a member state of the EPOrg that participates in the CSP.
The selection and nomination of prospective candidates is managed by the national patent office (NPO) of the member state where they reside and work.
See the list of participating member states in the new Candidate Support Programme for full details.
- List of participating member states
AL ALBANIA AT AUSTRIA BG BULGARIA CH SWITZERLAND CZ CZECH REPUBLIC DK DENMARK EE ESTONIA ES SPAIN FI FINLAND FR FRANCE GR GREECE HR CROATIA HU HUNGARY IE IRELAND IS ISLAND IT ITALY LT LITHUANIA LV LATVIA MC MONACO MK NORTH MACEDONIA NL NETHERLANDS NO NORWAY PL POLAND PT PORTUGAL RO ROMANIA RS SERBIA SI SLOVENIA SK SLOVAKIA SM SAN MARINO TR TÜRKIYE
See links to the national patent offices
Application CSP for EPAC
The CSP is targeting candidates preparing for four (highly recommended), or at least two of the modules of the EPAC 2026.
Candidates must first complete the ID verification step on the EQC portal, which is open throughout the whole year. As the next step, during the application period in Q1 2026, the interested candidates must complete the CSP online application form. The application for CSP must be submitted to their respective NPO via the NPO website along with proof of permanent residency, a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae.
Timeline for the CSP support for EPAC 2026:
- The CSP application process opens on 30 January 2026 and closes on 19 February 2026.
- NPOs will select the candidates by 13 March.
- The European Patent Academy courses preparing for EPAC will start in mid-March and CSP tutoring will start mid-April and end in September, with no tutoring and no Academy courses in July or August.
More information and the application form can be found on the websites of the participating national patent offices by mid-January 2026.
Application CSP for EQE
The next CSP application will open in late Q2/early Q3 2026, targeting candidates preparing for paper F of the EQE 2027 and aiming to sit papers M1/M2 in 2028 and M3/M4 in 2029.
To apply, candidates must complete the online CSP application form and submit it to their respective NPO along with proof of permanent residency, a motivation letter, a curriculum vitae, a support letter from their employer and a proof of enrolment to module F 2027. More information regarding the timeline will be published here in Q1 2026.