As part of the 68th series of meetings of the Assemblies of Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held in Geneva, a bilateral high-level meeting took place between the State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) and the Austrian Patent Office.
At the beginning of the meeting, AGEPI Director Julian E. Jorga expressed his gratitude for the ongoing support provided by the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Moldova in the process of institutional development and modernization, highlighting the significant contribution of the Austrian Development Agency to strengthening the capacity of the Republic of Moldova’s public authorities through the implementation of development projects in key areas for the country’s European path.
During the discussions, the parties reviewed the cooperative relationship between AGEPI and the Austrian Patent Office, which dates back to 1997, when a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the two institutions. The agreement formed the basis for bilateral cooperation in the field of patents, the main objective of which is for the Austrian Office, upon request, to conduct prior art searches for patent applications filed in the Republic of Moldova, which will contribute to the development of the national system for the protection of inventions and the strengthening of the expert capacity of the Austrian Patent and Trademark Office.
During the meeting, representatives of the two offices exchanged information on recent developments in the intellectual property systems of the Republic of Moldova and Austria, as well as on institutional priorities in the recent period. Particular attention was paid to the digital transformation of services, improving the quality of examination processes, and developing modern tools to support innovation and enhance the value of intellectual property.
The Director of AGEPI expressed interest in adopting the best practices developed by Austrian partners, particularly in the field of patenting, as well as the Austrian office’s experience in implementing programs aimed at stimulating innovation, supporting businesses and research institutions in the process of protecting and utilizing intellectual property rights.
In turn, the President of the Austrian Patent Office, Dr. Stefan Harasek, confirmed his agency’s openness to deepening professional dialogue and expanding cooperation with AGEPI, including through the exchange of expertise and joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest.
A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed
The parties agreed that deepening bilateral cooperation would benefit both organizations and, in particular, the community of innovators, researchers, and the business community in both countries. In this context, the parties expressed their intention to strengthen the legal framework for cooperation by concluding an inter-agency Memorandum of Cooperation, which will lay the groundwork for expanding bilateral cooperation and developing new joint projects in the field of intellectual property.
The meeting reaffirms the commitment of both agencies to promoting active institutional dialogue and leveraging the opportunities offered by bilateral cooperation to support the development of a modern and effective intellectual property protection system.
