On May 20–21, 2025, the High-Level Conference “Biotechnological Innovation for a Sustainable Future” takes place in Kraków, organized by the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (UPRP) as part of Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union

 

The conference brings together experts from across Europe, including representatives from ministries, regional and national intellectual property offices, international organisations, academia, and the business community.

 

The Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO) is represented at the event by:

 

• Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director;

 

• Olena Danylova, Deputy Head of the Department for Examination of Applications for Inventions, Utility Models and Semiconductor Products Layouts;

 

• Khrystyna Posheliuzhna, Head of Strategic Communications Division.

 

Biotechnologies and IP Law: challenges, opportunities and prospects

 

 

“New gene therapies, innovative biomedical materials, alternative protein sources, and lab-grown food are examples of solutions that, while offering great promise, also raise serious questions concerning safety, ethics, responsibility, and the protection of intellectual property”, noted Professor Ewa Skrzydło-Tefelska, President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, in her opening address.

 

“One of the key priorities of the Polish Presidency is health security. Developers of innovative medical technologies should take a comprehensive approach to the protection of intellectual property”, emphasized Edyta Demby-Siwek, Deputy Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

 

 

 

Vice President of the European Patent Office (EPO) Steve Rowan also delivered welcoming remarks. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), addressed the participants via video message.

 

 

Conference participants are engaging in broad discussions on a range of issues related to biotechnological innovation in the context of intellectual property, including:

 

• establishing sustainable IP legal frameworks for biotechnological innovation;

 

• biotechnology transfer: success stories, good practices and model cooperation;

 

• balancing IP rights and regulatory requirements;

 

• patent offices’ perspectives on biotechnology innovation;

 

• analysis of relevant case law;

 

• next steps for the development of biotechnologies.

 

Ukraine is on the path toward European Integration in the field of IP

 

UANIPIO representatives joined expert discussions on EU and Member States’ legislation and practice in the field of biotechnological innovation.

 

“Participation in such events is of exceptional importance for Ukraine. They provide opportunities to adopt advanced European experience in biotechnology, enhance expert dialogue with international partners, and build Ukraine’s expert position on the global stage. We are interested in stable cooperation with the EU countries to align legislation further and implement effective mechanisms to support innovation,” noted Bogdan Paduchak.

 

Within the conference, the UANIPIO delegation also discussed joint communication initiatives with EU patent offices representatives and the alignment of UANIPIO’s expert practices with European IP standards in the context of Ukraine’s path toward full EU membership.

 

Photos: The Chancellery of the Prime Minister / PAP S.A.

 

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Intellectual property in the focus of European integration: UANIPIO representatives got acquainted with the EU best IP practices

 

Ukrainian IP Office joined the session of the WIPO Nice Union Committee of Experts