Alain Pompidou
Encyclopedia
Alain PompidouAlain Pompidou (born April 5, 1942, Paris
, France
) is a French
scientist
and politician
. A former professor of histology
, embryology
and cytogenetics
, he was the fourth president of the European Patent Office
(EPO) from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. He is the son of Georges Pompidou
, former President of France.
, biology
and science
. From 1974 to 2004, he was professor of histology, embryology and cytogenetics in the medical faculty of the University of Paris
. Until 2004 he was also director of the laboratory of the Cochin - St Vincent de Paul - La Roche Guyon Hospital in Paris, head of the cytogenetics and pathology department, and chairman of the hospital group's advisory board. He hold tenures at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
and at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
in New-York.
He is also the author of numerous articles and monographs on science, ethics and society, as well as on biomedical ethics.
(WHO), UNESCO
and the European Commission
.
From 1990 to 2004, he was a member and founder of the French Academy of Technologies
.
Between 1986 and 1997 he acted as a special adviser to the French prime minister, the minister of research and higher education and the minister of health.
He is also the author of Souviens-toi de l'homme: l'éthique, la vie, la mort (Payot, Paris, 1990).
He was rapporteur of the subcommission on ethics of outer space activities of the World Commission on Ethics (COMEST) of the UNESCO, and he became a member, then vice-chair of COMEST in 2004. From 1999 to 2004, he served as a spokesman on research and space policy on the French Economic and Social Council. In 1999, he authored the joint report of UNESCO and the European Space Agency
(ESA) about The Ethics of Space Policy.
, with the preparation of the Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions ("gene patent directive"), and with bioethical issues as well as in innovation policy.
From 1994 to 1999 he was president of the European Parliament's Scientific and Technological Options Assessment, as well as President of the "Intergroupe Ciel et Espace Européen".
for an equal term. Alain Pompidou was the first Frenchman to hold the post of President of the EPO.
On June 30, 2004, i.e. the day before becoming president of the EPO, he and Albert-Claude Benhamou were granted , filed on March 16, 2001, for a "Device for in situ analysis and/or treatment consisting of a flexible rod and a micro-system fixed at one end of said flexible rod".
As the first president of the EPO with a background that is not specific to intellectual property
, his action aimed at making the Organisation more open and at raising awareness about the importance of patent policy, in particular among policy makers.
On July 9, 2008, the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal issued in Geneva a judgement indicating that the decision of a selection board at the EPO to appoint the spouse of Mr. Pompidou to an administrative post within the EPO, while Mr. Pompidou was President of the EPO, was taken in bad faith. While most of the requests of the complainant were dismissed in the case, the complainant was nevertheless awarded moral damages, which was to be paid by the EPO
es and still-born babies was discovered.
The Parquet de Paris (Paris Public Prosecutor's office) found that no violation of French criminal law had taken place. The relevant ministries decided to put the case to the so-called Disciplinary Commission (the competent jurisdiction regarding lecturers and hospital employees of university hospitals) which has reprimanded Pompidou. Incurring a reprimand is extremely rare.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. A former professor of histology
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
, embryology
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
and cytogenetics
Cytogenetics
Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the cell, especially the chromosomes. It includes routine analysis of G-Banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescent in situ...
, he was the fourth president of the European Patent Office
European Patent Office
The European Patent Office is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation , the other being the Administrative Council. The EPO acts as executive body for the Organisation while the Administrative Council acts as its supervisory body as well as, to a limited extent, its legislative...
(EPO) from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. He is the son of Georges Pompidou
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
, former President of France.
Professor of histology, embryology and cytogenetics (1974-2004)
He took doctorates in medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. From 1974 to 2004, he was professor of histology, embryology and cytogenetics in the medical faculty of the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. Until 2004 he was also director of the laboratory of the Cochin - St Vincent de Paul - La Roche Guyon Hospital in Paris, head of the cytogenetics and pathology department, and chairman of the hospital group's advisory board. He hold tenures at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
and at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
in New-York.
He is also the author of numerous articles and monographs on science, ethics and society, as well as on biomedical ethics.
Advisor for science policy and science ethics
Pompidou served on the consultative and scientific committee of numerous national, European and international organisations, including the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO), UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
From 1990 to 2004, he was a member and founder of the French Academy of Technologies
French Academy of Technologies
The French Academy of Technologies is a learned society, founded in 2000, with an emphasis on technology. It is the newest of French academies...
.
Between 1986 and 1997 he acted as a special adviser to the French prime minister, the minister of research and higher education and the minister of health.
He is also the author of Souviens-toi de l'homme: l'éthique, la vie, la mort (Payot, Paris, 1990).
He was rapporteur of the subcommission on ethics of outer space activities of the World Commission on Ethics (COMEST) of the UNESCO, and he became a member, then vice-chair of COMEST in 2004. From 1999 to 2004, he served as a spokesman on research and space policy on the French Economic and Social Council. In 1999, he authored the joint report of UNESCO and the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA) about The Ethics of Space Policy.
Member of the European Parliament (1989-1999)
As a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1999, he was particularly concerned with the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological DevelopmentFramework Programmes for Research and Technological Development
The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP1 through FP8, are funding programmes created by the European Union in order to support and encourage research in the European Research Area...
, with the preparation of the Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions ("gene patent directive"), and with bioethical issues as well as in innovation policy.
From 1994 to 1999 he was president of the European Parliament's Scientific and Technological Options Assessment, as well as President of the "Intergroupe Ciel et Espace Européen".
President of the European Patent Office (2004-2007)
In 2004, he was elected by the Administrative Council of the EPO as a result of a compromise. Although former presidents of the EPO held their post for at least seven years, Alain Pompidou was president for three years. He was succeeded by Alison BrimelowAlison Brimelow
Alison Jane Brimelow CBE is a British civil servant and former Chief Executive and Comptroller General of the UK Patent Office, now known as the Intellectual Property Office...
for an equal term. Alain Pompidou was the first Frenchman to hold the post of President of the EPO.
On June 30, 2004, i.e. the day before becoming president of the EPO, he and Albert-Claude Benhamou were granted , filed on March 16, 2001, for a "Device for in situ analysis and/or treatment consisting of a flexible rod and a micro-system fixed at one end of said flexible rod".
As the first president of the EPO with a background that is not specific to intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
, his action aimed at making the Organisation more open and at raising awareness about the importance of patent policy, in particular among policy makers.
On July 9, 2008, the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal issued in Geneva a judgement indicating that the decision of a selection board at the EPO to appoint the spouse of Mr. Pompidou to an administrative post within the EPO, while Mr. Pompidou was President of the EPO, was taken in bad faith. While most of the requests of the complainant were dismissed in the case, the complainant was nevertheless awarded moral damages, which was to be paid by the EPO
The Saint Vincent de Paul Mortuary
Between 1990 and 2004 he was Professor in charge of a number of medical services at Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital, in Paris, where in 2005 a collection of 351 foetusFetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
es and still-born babies was discovered.
The Parquet de Paris (Paris Public Prosecutor's office) found that no violation of French criminal law had taken place. The relevant ministries decided to put the case to the so-called Disciplinary Commission (the competent jurisdiction regarding lecturers and hospital employees of university hospitals) which has reprimanded Pompidou. Incurring a reprimand is extremely rare.
Honours
- Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
- Officer of the Order of National Merit of France (Officer de l'Ordre national du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
)
See also
- Roland GrossenbacherRoland GrossenbacherDr. Roland Edouard Grossenbacher is a Swiss attorney at law, who served as chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation from March 5, 2000 to March 4, 2009. He was appointed at this post for a first three-year term on 5 March 2000. He was then reelected in 2002 for a...
, former chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation - Dominique GuellecDominique GuellecDominique Guellec is a French economist. He formerly held the post of chief economist at the European Patent Office . He is senior economist at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development where he is in charge of the department monitoring innovation policies.-Bibliography :* The...
, former chief economist at the European Patent Office - Peter MesserliPeter MesserliPeter Messerli is the current Vice-President of the European Patent Office and head of the Boards of Appeal of the EPO known as DG3 since 1996...
, Vice-President of the European Patent Office, head of the DG Appeals - Bruno van Pottelsberghe, chief economist at the European Patent Office.
External links
- Biography on the EPO site, as archived on the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(December 6, 2006 version) - Biography on the Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology of UNESCO (COMEST)
- Personal web page
- Alain Pompidou on the European ParliamentEuropean ParliamentThe European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
web site