Abstract
<jats:p>The article provides a comprehensive analysis of Ukraine’s accession to the European Patent Convention as a strategically and institutionally necessary stage of the country’s integration into the unitary patent protection system of the European Union. The study goes beyond the traditional approach, under which EPC membership is viewed as an optional step, and substantiates it as a structural prerequisite for Ukraine’s full participation in the European innovation and legal space. The role of the European Patent Organisation and the European Patent Office in shaping the European patent infrastructure is examined, as well as the institutional link between the EPC and the functioning of the unitary patent protection system and the Unified Patent Court. It is determined that the further evolution of EU patent law is largely based on the procedures, examination standards, and administrative practices developed within the EPC framework. Particular attention is paid to the concept of initiative-driven European integration in the field of intellectual property, which involves the voluntary and proactive approximation of national legislation and institutions to European standards, even in the absence of a direct obligation under the Association Agreement. In this context, accession to the EPC is considered an element in reducing the regulatory gap between Ukraine and the EU, enhancing legal certainty for investors, and strengthening trust in the national patent system. The article also substantiates the need to establish a structured preparatory stage for Ukraine’s accession to the EPC, encompassing political, regulatory, institutional, кадровий, judicial, and economic-innovation dimensions. It is demonstrated that strategic planning in the field of intellectual property and the development of a Roadmap for accession to the EPC are key instruments for transforming a declarative European integration course into a consistent policy of patent integration. The findings confirm that Ukraine’s accession to the EPC should be regarded not as a technical stage of harmonisation, but as an institutional foundation for the country’s future participation in the unitary patent architecture of the EU.</jats:p>