A thematic event organized by the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO/IP Office) under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine was launched in Kyiv.
The theme of this year’s forum is “Startups speak the language of innovation, investors speak the language of solutions.” Therefore, the discussion focused on how to turn an innovative idea into a competitive solution, a business model that is understandable to investors and balanced agreements between the parties.
The event opened with welcoming and introductory speeches by Ukrainian and international intellectual property experts.
Andrew Czajkowski, Director of WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Division, emphasized that countries that invest in developing innovative ecosystems and supporting IP are better positioned for sustainable development in times of global uncertainty:
“Developed intellectual property and innovation ecosystems enable inventors, researchers, and entrepreneurs to realize their potential and create real value from ideas and inventions. Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) play a key role in this process by providing access to knowledge and tools. Countries that systematically support such ecosystems are better prepared for today’s challenges.”
Michal Vávra, Acting Head of the European Department of Research and Development in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, emphasized the crucial role of cross-sectoral cooperation and comprehensive state support in technology transfer and commercialization of innovations — from fundamental research to product launch:
“Innovations do not arise on their own — they require a holistic ecosystem that encompasses fundamental and applied research, effective interaction between science and business and the implementation of results on the market. With the right kind of cooperation, everyone wins — universities, companies, startups, and the State. That is why, in addition to financial support, it is important to establish partnerships, enable knowledge and technology transfer and create a flexible regulatory environment that does not create unnecessary barriers for innovators.”
Olli Ilmarinen, Development Expert (intellectual property for small and medium-sized enterprises) at the Finnish Patent and Registration Office, emphasized that IP is a practical tool for commercializing innovations and attracting investment and that international cooperation and accessible SME support tools play a key role in the sustainable development of innovation ecosystems:
“Intellectual property is not just patents or trade marks, but above all a practical set of tools that helps turn ideas into real products and services. For startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, IP can simultaneously support investment attraction, partner search and market position strengthening. It is the combination of strong IP systems, accessible support and international cooperation that creates the conditions for innovation and economic recovery.”
Anna Mishchenko, CEO and Partner of Kyiv School of Public Administration named after Serhiy Nyznhny, noted that in wartime innovation and property protection in Ukraine are not only a matter of development, but also a matter of survival and the choice of a free world:
“What is created in other countries thanks to stable conditions is often born in Ukraine despite the circumstances. Today, innovation for us is a response to existential challenges. The issues of intellectual property and respect for property in general are the basis for the free world for which we fight and which we defend every day.”
Olena Orliuk (left) and Anna Mishchenko
Olena Orliuk, Director of the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO/IP Office), emphasized in her speech the importance of perceiving and implementing intellectual property not as a formal registration system, but primarily as a practical tool for development, commercialization of innovations and further progress of the State:
“Ukrainians do not need to be taught how to create innovations or intellectual property, but they need support in how to work with it, using IP as a tool for commercialization, scaling and protection. That is why it is important for us to show not the individual successes of agencies or projects, but the holistic development of the IP system and the innovation ecosystem. Practice, case studies and understandable tools are changing the attitude of businesses and investors toward intellectual property. We register not for the sake of registration, but for the sake of growth, protection and the future of Ukraine.”
For more details watch the broadcast of the event on the IP Office YouTube channel:
For reference:
Information partners of COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE 2025:
Photo: Ilya Nosik
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