The Portuguese person João Negrão was the applicant picked by the EU member states to the post of Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). This application was heavily backed by the Portuguese Government through an active diplomatic campaign in all EU member states and the various European institutions.

The outcome of today’s election reflects the Government’s commitment to boost Portugal’s representation in the European Union institutions, agencies, and bodies in line with the National European Careers Strategy approved in December 2022.

The Secretary of State for European Affairs Tiago Antunes claimed: "Our strategy to boost the presence of the Portuguese in European institutions yielded a significant outcome today with the election of a Portuguese person to head one of the largest and most relevant European Union agencies. We are truly pleased to see our efforts bearing fruits and raising Portugal’s profile in heading over Europe’s destiny".

The EUIPO manages the rights of brands and the designs and models in the European Union that apply to the whole of the EU. Based in Alicante, this EU agency has more than one thousand workers throughout the various European countries and a budget of over 300 million euros. Intellectual property rights are essential to economic activity, innovation and growth, granting real added value to its holders as well as to the economy at large. 

João Negrão has a Law degree and over 20 years’ experience in industrial property at national and European level. He has been chaired the EUIPO’s Boards of Appeal since 2020. Previously, he was the Office’s Head of International Cooperation and Legal Affairs and Head of International relations, Legal Affairs and Promotion of Innovation of the Portuguese Industrial Property Office (INPI).

The appointment process will be formally concluded with the adoption by the Council of the European Union. With this election, Portugal consolidates the high profile it has taken on in the last ten years in the field of intellectual property and patents.