In the period 6-8 October 2014, at the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) takes place a visit of the experts of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is in a mission of assessing the economic impact and implementation of the National Intellectual property Strategy until 2020, approved by Government Decision no. 880 of 22.11.2012.

The delegation of WIPO includes Antonina Stoyanova, Senior Consultant, Special Projects Division, WIPO Department for Africa and Special Projects and Ron Marchant, WIPO expert.

WIPO evaluation mission is organized in conjunction with completion, at the end of the year, of the first stage of implementation of the National Intellectual Property Strategy until 2020 (hereinafter - National Strategy), developed in the years 2012-2014. It should be mentioned that Republic of Moldova was one of the pilot countries that have benefited from WIPO assistance in the drafting of the National Strategy in the WIPO Project of rendering assistance to Member States in developing national strategies in the field of intellectual property.

During the meeting of WIPO delegation with the AGEPI administration and group of experts, who participated in drafting the National Strategy and Action Plan for 2012-2014 on implementation of the Strategy, Mrs. Antonina Stoyanova noted that Moldova enjoys a high appreciation in the WIPO, being the only country in the said Project that not only developed the Strategy, but has already reached the completion of the first phase of its implementation.

At the same time, during the visit of WIPO experts, on 7 October this year, at the AGEPI was organized a round table with the participation of representatives of the public authorities, institutions and organizations of the country involved in the process of implementation of the National Strategy.

Mr. Ron Marchant noted that the assessment of the economic impact and the implementation of the National Strategy are important for both WIPO and the Republic of Moldova as intellectual property (IP) is not a purpose in itself, but a tool for achieving a high level of economic development based on innovations and IP potential. Also, it is very difficult to assess the economic impact of IP, the expert presenting in this sense some methods and several indicators (economic statistics, etc.) that could be used for this purpose.

In the round table took place an active dialogue of WIPO experts with the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Culture, Customs Service, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Chamber of State Registration, Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, State Commission for Variety Testing on the achievements obtained during the first phase of implementation of the National Strategy, the existing problems and priorities. According to several participants, such discussions are very useful, because they contribute to a deeper systemic perception of the field of intellectual property and must be organized at a frequency of at least once in six months.

Also, in accordance with the mission program, WIPO experts had meetings with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova and organizations for collective management of copyright and related rights in the framework of which took place useful exchanges of views and discussions of common interest.

More photos can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/agepi-moldova/