Sakpatenti Hosts Delegation from China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

For the first time, within the framework of mutual cooperation, a delegation from the National Intellectual Property Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNIPA) visited the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – Sakpatenti.

At Sakpatenti’s Head Office in Mtskheta, Mr. Soso Giorgadze, Chairman of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – Sakpatenti, along with Deputy Chairpersons Ms. Tika Nebieridze and Ms. Nino Chikovani, welcomed Dr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of CNIPA, and other senior CNIPA officials.

During the meeting, the parties discussed various areas of mutual cooperation between Sakpatenti and CNIPA, including the protection and mutual recognition of Geographical Indications (GIs), the sharing of experiences and best practices between the offices, as well as professional development opportunities through employee exchange programs.

The discussion also focused on joint international educational activities, such as annual summer and winter schools for youth. Additionally, the development of intellectual property (IP) guidelines and strategies to support local startups was identified as areas for future collaboration.

Both parties expressed optimism that Sakpatenti’s participation in the Belt and Road Intellectual Property Cooperation (BRIPC) projects will further deepen and expand, leading to larger-scale cooperation in the coming years.

It is important to note that significant progress in the collaboration between Sakpatenti and CNIPA began in recent years, particularly following the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on July 31, 2023. This agreement established a framework for collaboration on various strategic IP issues and expertise exchange between the two offices.

Building on this agreement, in September 2023, Sakpatenti Chairman Mr. Soso Giorgadze visited Beijing. During a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Dr. Shen Changyu, an official agreement regarding the protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) was reached. A Letter of Intent was signed between Sakpatenti and CNIPA, providing for cooperation aimed at promoting mutual understanding of the GI protection systems of both countries. The agreement outlines opportunities for development, case study exchanges, origin research, and surveys on the need for GI protection. Additionally, it includes the creation of a recommended list of GIs for reciprocal protection.