The IV National Forum on Intellectual Property and Innovation “Intellectual Property: Law, Economy, Technology” (IP LET Forum 2025) is back with new topics, speakers and large-scale international participation.
The main annual event in the field of intellectual property has started in Kyiv, bringing together international experts, representatives of the State, business, science, innovative and creative industries.
IP LET Forum 2025 is held 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 in cooperation with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the EU4IP project “Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights in Moldova and Ukraine”, which is funded by the EU. The event will be supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
The forum started with welcoming speeches from international partners.
Watch the forum broadcast on the UANIPIO YouTube channel:
João Negrão, Executive Director of the EUIPO, was the first to deliver a video message. He expressed admiration for the courage and determination of Ukrainians, who, despite the difficult conditions of the war, continue to demonstrate amazing ingenuity and unwavering focus on building a better future:
“Even amid great challenges, Ukraine is turning towards innovation as a path to grow, to stability and to opportunity. Intellectual property and the Ukrainian IP office play a central role in this process. This is why supporting Ukraine remains at the top of the EUIPO’s cooperation agenda. A strong, modern IP system is essential to Ukraine’s recovery, growth and prosperity. In these efforts, we are proud to stand with Ukraine towards EU accession.”
João Negrão reminded that cooperation between the Ukrainian IP Office and EUIPO is based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023. Since then, a number of important projects have been implemented. A significant achievement was the recent integration of Ukraine into TMview, the world’s largest trademark database. Owing to this, almost 600 thousand Ukrainian brands have become available in global search.
And Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receive support through the SME Fund, where Ukraine is the only state that is not a EU member, but has the right to participate. More than 350 Ukrainian companies have already been able to use the partial coverage of the costs of TM, industrial designs and patents registration in the EU countries.
“Confidence in the reliability of the IP system is vital, not only for domestic creators and businesses, but also for international investors accessing opportunities in Ukraine. A clear, modern and transparent IP framework sends a powerful signal that Ukraine is ready to grow through innovation. In doing so, it is becoming a committed and reliable partner in shaping a competitive and forward-looking European economy,” João Negrão emphasized.
António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office (EPO), also congratulated the participants of the event. He pointed out the importance of the forum for deepening partnership and helping Ukraine move closer to the EPC (European Patent Convention), European standards and the EU.
“From advancing legal alignment to sharing our cutting-edge technologies, the EPO remains committed to the meaningful IP reforms that Ukraine is driving as part of its integration journey. Why? Because Europe has always been stronger with Ukraine. From Ivan Puluj developing X-ray designs to the flexible fabric supercapacitors advanced at Lviv Polytechnic which store solar energy in a piece of cloth — the history of Ukraine is the history of invention. These achievements enrich Europe and strengthen our shared future,” the speaker noted.
He pointed out that in recent years Reinforced Technical and Strategic Partnership with the IP Office has turned solidarity into concrete actions that contribute to improving the level of knowledge and potential of Ukraine in the field of patenting in key areas for the IP system – from supporting expertise and professional development of staff to digitalization and data exchange.
In particular, owing to technical support and free access to EPO tools and platforms, Ukrainian experts can use the most up-to-date search tool and extensive databases. Ukraine became the first country to receive such an opportunity outside the EPO Member States.
“We are also proud to technically assist Ukraine in joining the European Union. Work on Chapter 7 of the EU Acquis — covering intellectual property — is progressing well, and Ukraine is steadily advancing towards full compliance with EU standards in the field of patenting. At the same time, we are laying the technical and legal foundations which would put Ukraine in the position to become a Member State of the EPO. We stand ready as a steadfast partner of Ukraine, and we look forward to one day, rather sooner than later, to welcome Ukraine as full member state of our European family,” António Campinos emphasized.
Habip Asan, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Division for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC), also addressed the participants of IP LET Forum 2025. He emphasized the relevance and prospects of the event — to combine law, economics and technology through IP:
“IP is no longer a niche legal field. It lies at the core of value creation in today’s economy. According to WIPO and Brand Finance data, global corporate intangible value rebounded strongly in 2024 to around 80 trillion US dollars, while worldwide investment in intangibles grew by nearly 3 per cent from 2023 to 2024, reaching about 7.6 trillion US dollars. IP transforms creativity and research into investable assets. It gives innovators and creative enterprises the confidence to take risks, attract funding, build brands and enter new markets.”
The speaker pointed out the significant steps that Ukraine has taken in recent years to modernize its IP ecosystem. In particular, the development of a new national IP strategy is being finalized. It will provide a roadmap for strengthening IP’s power to drive economic growth, support cultural development, ensure wider IP awareness and harness technological development.
“As Ukraine advances its recovery and reconstruction, IP can play an increasingly strategic role. From a legal perspective, a predictable, transparent and efficient IP framework is essential. From an economic perspective, IP is a powerful enabler for SMEs and start-ups, in particular, in sectors where Ukraine is already strong, such as: IT, engineering, agri-food, creative industries and cultural heritage. From a technology perspective, IP is the bridge between research and the marketplace. WIPO stands ready to deepen cooperation in all three dimensions: supporting legislative and policy reforms, strengthening institutions including UANIPIO and enforcement bodies, and continue to working directly with universities, SMEs, start-ups and creative communities to build practical IP capabilities,” Habip Asan emphasized.
For reference:
IP LET Forum 2025 is a space where intellectual property is considered as a resource for economic recovery, innovation and cultural resilience of Ukraine. The event demonstrates that Ukraine is an active player on the global IP map and a carrier of unique practices in the field of innovation, culture and technology.
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