International Conference “The Role of IP Offices in the National Innovation Ecosystem” is Held in Georgia

On occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia “Sakpatenti”, the International Conference “The Role of IP Offices in the National Innovation Ecosystem” is held. The event is jointly organized by Sakpatenti, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The conference was opened by Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

“I would like to first thank Sakpatenti for collaborating with WIPO to organize this event. Over the last 30 years, our cooperation has deepened, diversified and strengthened. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing to working with you to make IP a powerful catalyst for growth, development and opportunity for Georgia and the world. Georgia has long been a leader in IP education and we are pleased that Sakpatenti will share its experience with you during this event. Georgia’s fruitful cooperation with the WIPO Academy has led to the creation of an IP Training Center under Sakpatenti, and I would like to congratulate Georgia on having the highest proportion of female participants in Academy courses of any country in the world.  This does justice to the land of Tamar the Great”, - noted Mr. Daren Tang.  

Mr. Levan Davitashvili, Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and Ms. Manana Pruidze, Acting Chairperson Sakpatenti, also delivered welcoming addresses. 

Mr. Levan Davitashvili noted: “Protection of intellectual property rights and promotion of their enforcement accelerate the process of economic development, create new branches of industry and jobs, improve the quality and level of living conditions, facilitate improvement of investment environment, reveal additional resources and stimulate further innovations. Today, it is universally acknowledged that intellectual potential represents the main guarantee for gaining an advantage over competitors, entry into new markets and sustainable development. This explains the great importance which is given to the existence of the intellectual property system and its effective functioning in the modern world.” 

In her address Ms. Manana Pruidze expressed gratitude to the Director General of WIPO for his visit to Georgia and for the invaluable support of WIPO rendered to Sakpatenti over the years in the development of the intellectual property system. She highlighted the importance of organization of the given international conference in Georgia. It demonstrates more obviously the increasing role of the intellectual property offices in the development of the innovation ecosystems of countries, which in its turn is a precondition of the economic growth of the country.   

During the two-day conference, the participants will consider the importance of engagement of IP offices in the development of the national innovation system, attention will be focused on the importance of providing additional services and issues of supporting innovation activities, which are actively being introduced by developed countries. At the conference, innovation and knowledge based economy and the role of IP offices in coordination of enforcement activities in the country will also be discussed.  The conference is aimed to determine the new role of intellectual property offices in the national innovation ecosystems of various countries and to share their practical experience and knowledge in this direction, which will facilitate more active and efficient participation of IP offices in the development of the national innovative ecosystem. 

Together with the Director General of WIPO, the event is attended by invited foreign guests from 17 countries, including members of the WIPO delegation, representatives of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Patent office (EPO), heads and experts of national IP offices of various countries, as well as representatives of Georgian government agencies, the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia and international and local organizations.