A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). On behalf of Georgia the Memorandum was signed by Mr. Soso Giorgadze, Chairman of Sakpatenti, and on behalf of the Switzerland – by H.E. Heidi Grau – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to Georgia. The ceremony of signing took place at the Head Office of Sakpatenti.
The purpose of the Memorandum is to support priority areas defined by the Georgian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (GESIP) and to facilitate cooperation between the Parties in this respect. According to the Project, the Government of the Swiss Confederation is committed to support Georgia in its efforts to facilitate trade and investment by promoting the protection and use of Intellectual Property Rights. It will also contribute to the strengthening of the intellectual property legal framework and the services of IP-relevant institutions in Georgia, which are essential components to support the innovation ecosystem and to promote employment opportunities. Specifically, the Project will provide technical assistance, research and information with regard to best practices. In addition, the Project will provide capacity building in the field of geographical indications to support GI producers as well as support to Sakpatenti Department of Inventions and New Varieties and Breeds, which is an important factor facilitating development of the system of protection of geographical indications and the patent system in Georgia.
Georgia, in its turn, will provide sufficient human resources for the Project’s efficient and expeditious implementation, in order to take full ownership of the Project. It will also assure coordination within organizations involved in the implementation of the Project, including the governmental institutions and other IP-related entities. It will also coordinate inputs of local experts (civil servants) and their effective participation in the Project.
GESIP is a joint project of Sakpatenti and the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI), with the budget of CHF 596,218.60. The Project is implemented with the financial support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and will be completed in 2025.
The signing of the Memorandum on the part of Georgia was attended by the management of Sakpatenti, and on the part of Switzerland – by representatives of the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation to Georgia. The signing ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).