Mr. Johan Amand holds a degree in Chemical Engineering (University of Louvain, Belgium 1964) and a degree of Master in Law (University of Leiden, Netherlands 1984).
After some years of teaching and research at the Universities of Louvain, Belgium, and Lovanium in Kinshasa, Congo, he joined the EPO which was called IIB at that time in 1972.
After having been examiner for 14 years in the technical field physics focusing on the chemical part of photography, he joined the Directorate International Co-operation in December 1987 where he became Deputy Director in 1994. In 2004, Mr Amand became Director for International Affairs at the EPO.
Mr. Amand has extensive experience in co-operation projects with Africa, Asia and Latin America. He has been the Director of several EC-funded programmes, among others the ECAP project with ASEAN countries.
Mr. Amand represents the EPO in international meetings regarding patents and developing countries and regarding protection of biodiversity and traditional knowledge.