The European Union (EU) should adopt a universal patent system with English as its official language, suggests a white paper released by the Charles III University of Madrid on 12 September. In The EU Patent System: To Be or Not To Be, researchers argue that the existing system impedes innovation. Currently, patents can be filed in any language, and every EU nation has different stipulations, legal requirements and costs. Marco Giarratana, an associate professor in business strategy at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, and a co-author of the report, says that a universal system in English would encourage innovation by lowering translation and other costs. He also argues that a shared language for patents would boost mobility among young scientists.