In the period 20-21 July this year, in the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) took place the working visit of Ms. Sophio Mujiri, Deputy Chairperson of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (Sakpatenti).

The visit was aimed at strengthening the bilateral cooperation relations through the realization of an information and experience exchange between AGEPI and Sakpatenti in the field of development of national systems of protection, exploitation and enforcement of intellectual property rights, the topics of increased interest being: Republic of Moldova’s experience in the context of signing the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the European Patent Organization (EPO) on Validation of European patents (Validation Agreement) in particular, procedural aspects of implementation of the Validation Agreement, necessary measures to be taken to ensure the correct application of its provisions, identification of AGEPI obligations following the signing of the Validation Agreement, aspects on European patents post-grant procedure under the Validation Agreement; importance of the campaigns on awareness of population and promotion of information in the field of protection of intellectual property, practice of organization by AGEPI of seminars, training courses, workshops for different users of intellectual property objects, realization of the exchange of experience in the field of intellectual property between the examiners of both institutions, and identification of priority trends of cooperation AGEPI-Sakpatenti for the next period, in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding between offices, signed on 3 June 2013, in Chisinau.

Considering that one of the topics of discussion was the promotion of the innovation systems in the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, during the working visit to AGEPI, Ms. Mujiri also met with Mr. Roman Chirca, Director General of the Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer (AITT), who presented the experience of AITT, whose mission is to promote, coordinate and stimulate the implementation of national policies in the field of innovation and technological transfer. In turn, the Deputy Chairperson of Sakpatenti emphasized that innovation and technology transfer activity is important and absolutely necessary for the formation of a competitive economy in modern society, contributing to the interaction between the academic and business environment.

Also, during the visit to Chisinau, on 21 July this year, Ms. Sophio Mujiri, accompanied by representatives of AGEPI, has met with Mr. Eduard Grama, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, with specialists from the ministry, and with representatives of the State Inspectorate for Supervision of Alcoholic Products, National Center for Quality Check of Alcoholic Products, National Vine and Wine Office, in which there were discussions about the protection of geographical indications, in particular the procedure for identification and selection of products which may be designated with geographical indications and/or appellations of origin, preparation of specifications, the procedure for registration and recognition of geographical indications and appellations of origin, etc. Also, under discussion were issues related to ensuring quality control of products benefiting from GI/AO, and the involvement of different institutions in the process of verifying product compliance with specifications. During this meeting both sides expressed willingness to deepen the cooperation, especially in the field of geographical indications and appellations of origin.