Belarus is striving for a strong and balanced intellectual property system that complies with international standards and meets the interests of national applicants.

This was stated by Vladimir Ryabovolov, Director General of the National Center for Intellectual Property (NCIP) of the Republic of Belarus, during a meeting with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Daren Tang “on the sidelines” of the 64th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the WIPO Member States.

“Nowadays, it is more important than ever to ensure access to intellectual property resources at all levels. The Government of the Republic of Belarus, in its turn, recognizes the importance of integrating intellectual property tools into the work of all sectors of the economy,” emphasized the Head of the Belarusian Office.

Earlier, delivering a speech at the meeting of the Assemblies, Vladimir Ryabovolov noted that Belarus had successfully implemented the WIPO project on the introduction of institutional IP policy for universities and research organizations. Vladimir Ryabovolov also highlighted that a number of technology and innovation support centers were being actively developed and that active efforts were being undertaken to join the Lisbon system. Also, together with the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO), NCIS is strengthening the innovation potential of technoparks under a joint project between the WIPO and the EAPO.

Vladimir Ryabovolov expressed serious concern about attempts to politicize the IP field and emphasized that “illegal unilateral coercive measures undermine the efforts of WIPO and Member States to create conditions for innovation and creativity, economic, social, and cultural development for the benefit of everybody. In the opinion of the Director General of the Belarusian Office, “today it is more important than ever to maintain professional contacts and dialog and to build the capacity of the expert community in the interests of all users of the global IP system. He urged all states to comply with the provisions of international treaties within the framework of WIPO and bilateral agreements in order to exclude any kind of discrimination against users and to form an inclusive and balanced system of intellectual property.

On the sidelines of the 64th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the WIPO Member States, the NCIS delegation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of intellectual property with the National Center for Patents and Information of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan and initialed a similar Memorandum of Understanding with the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The NCIS delegation and Kyrgyzpatent, another partner in the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), signed an Agreement on Mutual Representation of Interests in the Field of “Big Rights” and an Agreement on Mutual Representation of Interests in the Field of Public Performance of Works.