Work on the draft National IP Strategy, implementation of the WIPO General Assembly Decision on assistance and support to Ukraine, preferential access to databases, trainings for trademark and patent examiners, support and development of the Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) network, implementation of the IP Management Clinics Program and support of the National IP&Innovations Hub activities – these were the main ongoing, pending and planned activities and projects in Ukraine discussed by the management of the Ukrainian IP Office (UANIPIO) with the management of the Division for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) during the online meeting held on November 14, 2024.

 

The meeting was attended by WIPO representatives:

 

• Habip Asan, Director, Division for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC);

 

• Virag Halgand, Head, Section for Central European and. Baltic States and Mediterranean Countries, TDC;

 

• Mihaela Cerbari Simmons, Project Officer, TDC;

 

• Kasym Velychko, Consultant, TDC.

 

The Ukrainian IP office was represented at the meeting by:

 

• Olena Orliuk, Director;

 

• Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director;

 

• Ihor Parenchuk, Deputy Director;

 

• Mykola Pototskyy, Advisor to the Director;

 

• Andrii Zozuliuk, Head, International Cooperation Department;

 

• Maryna Hepenko, leading IP professional, International Cooperation Department.

 

 

Habip Asan outlined the range of WIPO’s priority activities and projects in Ukraine and focused on the drafting of the National IP Strategy. He emphasized WIPO’s readiness to support the Ukrainian intellectual property sphere, creative and innovative sectors, as well as ongoing and future projects implemented with UANIPIO.

 

Olena Orliuk expressed her gratitude to the TDC representatives for the reliable and much-needed support of the Ukrainian IP Office and the national intellectual property sphere.

 

“The functioning of the Ukrainian IP Office is largely driven by the process of Ukraine’s full membership in the EU. The year 2025 will be devoted to the development amendments to the current IP legislation and drafting of new legislation, for example, on trade secrets”, – she noted.

 

The Director of the IP Office also informed the WIPO representatives about the work on the draft National IP Strategy. Among other things, the document will clearly outline the issues of innovation development, the National IP & Innovations Hub, the development of the innovation infrastructure and the impact of intellectual property on the development of the innovation environment.

 

In addition, Olena Orliuk shared the dynamics of the TISC network expansion, plans to form a network of regional innovation hubs, and emphasized: “One of the important tasks is to develop policies for the development of geographical indications in Ukraine, in particular, folk crafts and crafts”.

 

Bogdan Paduchak informed the WIPO representatives about the details of the work with involved international and national experts on the draft National IP Strategy, as well as the consolidation of the diagnostic report.

 

The participants of the event agreed to hold further meetings to discuss current issues.

 

“It is important for us to be in constant communication with WIPO in order to adjust our priority activities and projects, as well as to inform WIPO about our current challenges and processes. One of the most important events is the official screening of the European Commission to assess the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law under the negotiated Title 7 “Intellectual Property Rights”, which is scheduled for December this year. Based on the results of the screening, the next steps to amend the legislation in the process of approximation to the acquis EU will be detailed”, -summarized the First Deputy Director of UANIPIO.

 

Read also:

 

Harmonization of the Ukrainian IP system with the EU standards: outcomes of the UANIPIO delegation visit to the EUIPO

 

IPR Dialogue 2024: Ukraine briefs the European Commission on the main achievements of the IP sphere