WIPO Director General Mr. Daren Tang Visited Sakpatenti

“World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will remain a steadfast ally and partner as we work together to ensure that IP is a powerful catalyst of growth, development and opportunity across Georgia and beyond… we agreed to increase cooperation in a number of areas, including alternative dispute resolution and support in building practical IP skills of SMEs, students, startups, judges and female entrepreneurs.  

SAKPATENTI’s close relationship with the WIPO Academy has helped to establish a Georgian IP Training Center in 2016, and with concrete programs like professional development for GI producers, the distance learning General Course on Intellectual Property and other major projects.

Once again, we congratulate SAKPATENTI for establishing the foundations of the IP ecosystem of Georgia for the past 30 years and express gratitude to Sakpatenti staff”, - Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), noted during his visit to Sakpatenti in his address to the staff members of the Office. 

The meeting with Sakpatenti staff members, planned within the visit of Mr. Daren Tang to Tbilisi, was held in the discussion format. The WIPO Director General overviewed the current challenges in the intellectual property field and possibilities of introducing novelties. He also answered questions of staff members of the Office. 

During the visit of Mr. Daren Tang to Sakpatenti, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia “Sakpatenti” “On Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Intellectual Property Field”, after which a meeting of Mr. Tang with Sakpatenti management took place. At the meeting future plans of cooperation with WIPO were considered, including the possibility of developing a joint Master’s Degree Program on Intellectual Property and implementation of projects for promotion of innovation activities in Georgia. In addition, the issue of supporting women in development of creative industries and demonstration of their role was considered during the conversation. The possibility of holding the next edition of the Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications in Georgia was also put forward. 

The visit to Sakpatenti ended the first official visit of Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), to Georgia. Within the two-day visit, Mr. Daren Tang held top level meetings and attended the International Conference “The Role of IP Offices in the National Innovation Ecosystem”, held on occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sakpatenti.