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The EPO's Directorate-General 4, Corporate Services, ensures that EPO staff members at all our five sites benefit from state-of-the-art working conditions. Its areas of expertise range from the compensation and benefits package offered to EPO employees to the tools made available via Business Information Technology to all types of workplace set-up in the EPO buildings. In addition, DG 4 is responsible for the sustainable management of the EPO's finances.

Our objective is to contribute to the Office's vision by providing high-quality services in a timely way and economically. By doing so we care for our staff and allow them to contribute and perform their tasks to the best of their ability in line with the EPO vision statement: "Committed to excellence".

We see ourselves as the facilitator and enabler of the core business while ensuring the well-being of our colleagues. By managing the EPO's financial resources as effectively as possible, we maintain its financial independence.

DG 4 staff members are highly qualified professionals working in Finance, Human Resources, Facility Management and Business Information Technology. They are committed to delivering high-quality services to their colleagues and ensuring the EPO's continuing success.

Our teams

Principal Directorate Finance (PD 4.1) is part of DG 4 Corporate Services and oversees all financial matters, including planning, budgeting, performance analysis, accounting, transaction processing and liquidity management. It comprises two directorates: Financial Planning and Analysis, and Treasury and Accounting. 

Principal Directorate People (PD 4.2) is at the front line of human resource management. It handles talent acquisition and talent management, the work of HR business partners and payroll operations. 

Principal Directorate Welfare and Remuneration (PD 4.3) is responsible for policy on compensation and benefits, employment and workforce planning. 

Principal Directorate General Administration (PD 4.4) manages our corporate facilities, construction projects, technical installations and art collection, and provides language and document services. It also plays a leading role in maintaining the EPO’s property and investing in it for the future. In operating our buildings and planning and carrying out works, it needs to ensure the highest level of safety for staff and visitors. It contributes to the Office’s strategy to further reduce its environmental footprint, and to making the “New Ways of Working” a reality by shaping safe and pleasant working environments for staff. PD 4.4 also supports the patent granting process in the area of logistics (mail and distribution services). 

Business Information Technology (BIT) consists of Principal Directorate CTO Office (Chief Technology Office) (PD 4.5) and Principal Directorate CIO Office (Chief Information Office) (PD 4.6), which together drive the EPO's digital transformation. The CTO is responsible for our overall IT architecture. It also creates and maintains the online services supporting the patent granting process, services provided by the EPO for national patent offices and other external stakeholders (remit of Directorates IT Co‑operation and Online User Engagement). The CIO is responsible for overall investment in IT, the implementation of IT solutions for corporate functions (HR, finance, collaboration tools, facilities, business analytics tools), project management, compliance and information security, and the operation of IT systems, networks and infrastructure. 

Principal Directorate Procurement and Vendor Management (PD 4.7) assists and facilitates the Office and external stakeholders in all matters regarding the procurement of goods and services and in vendor management. It acts as a change manager and vanguard to implement sustainable procurement for the Office. In doing so, it helps to ensure business continuity by applying a compliant, effective and efficient procurement process to obtain the resources required. 

Directorate Corporate Performance, Risk and Compliance (D 4.0.1) supports the Office in issues relating to corporate governance, risk management and performance optimisation. This includes corporate reporting, SP2028 dashboard management, corporate risk management, oversight of integrated management systems and internal ISO audits.