Georgia’s Intellectual Property Centre Chair, European Patent Office President discuss validation agreement, cooperation

Soso Giorgadze, the Chair of the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia and Antonio Campinos, the President of the European Patent Office on Saturday discussed the validation agreement between the agencies, which came into force on January 15, allowing applicants to validate European patents granted by the EPO in Georgia.

At the meeting held in Munich, the sides highlighted the “mutually beneficial agreement”, with Giorgadze thanking Campinos for his support in the “complex and dynamic validation process”, the body, also known as Sakpatenti, said.

The officials noted that adding Georgia, one of the “fastest-growing” economies in the Black Sea region with a “modern and efficient system” of intellectual property rights protection, to the European patent area would be “favourable” for EPO and “an important step” for Georgia on its path to European integration, which had received the EU membership candidate status in December 2023.

Georgia expects that the process of the country’s accession to the European Patent Convention will be accelerated, which means that Georgia will become a full member of the EPO”, the Georgian side noted at the meeting.

The number of important reforms carried out by the Georgian Centre, including amendments to the patent law and improving electronic systems to the compatible level with EPO, were also emphasised at the meeting, with Giorgadze noting that raising and improving the qualifications of experts was one of the body’s priority areas.

The conversation also touched on the future cooperation between Sakpatenti and EPO, with the parties reviewing the priority areas - strengthening intellectual property protection mechanisms, introducing new services and bolstering educational direction.

The Georgian side pointed out that the relevant bill for the reform of the Institute of Patent Attorneys had already been submitted to the Parliament of Georgia.

Campinos affirmed his unwavering support to the Chair of the Intellectual Property Centre and the sides agreed to develop and sign a common action plan.