The adoption of the Presidential Decree 31/2019 (hereinafter “Presidential Decree”) brought about the establishment of the Hellenic Academy of Industrial Property, as a separate service of the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization, seated in Athens and enjoying administrative and financial autonomy.

The purpose of this Academy is to develop a national system of education and certification in the field of industrial property in order for students to acquire the title of certified patent advisors, to harmonize the Greek educational system in this field with the corresponding international and European system, to strengthen innovation in Greece and cooperation between certified patent advisors and lawyers, as well as to cooperate with international organizations and higher education institutions for the preparation of relevant agreements and for the organization of research programs.

The Academy's main education program, which leads to the award of a patent advisor certification, after successfully attending the respective national exams, has a duration of two years. Short-term periodic training programs are also offered by the Academy and lead to the award of a certificate of attendance. A part of those programs may be in English, while the participation in them may require the payment of tuition fees, the amount of which, will be determined by decision of the Board of Directors. The relevant national exams, the successful participation in which, leads to obtaining a patent advisor certification, will be conducted, by decision of the Board, up to 3 times per year and will consist of both a written and an oral part. A main condition, among others, for the admission to the exams is the completion of the Academy's main education program, otherwise the proven five-year apprenticeship in offices of certified Greek or European Patent Office advisors. An exemption from the above system of examinations is introduced for certified advisors of the European Patent Office, who have the right to request the recognition of their title in Greece by submitting a certified copy of their title and by successful participating in an oral or written examination concerning exclusively the Greek industrial property system. Holders of patent advisor certification issued by the National Industrial Property Offices of the European Union Member States have the right to follow a similar simplified procedure for the recognition of their title, provided that the Academy has concluded bilateral cooperation agreements with these Offices. The award of the title of certified patent advisor authorizes its holder to assist or to file documents before the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization.