Munich, June 30 - July 1, 2026 - One month after the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and the acquisition of the quality of the 40th Member State of the European Patent Organization (EPO), the delegation of the Republic of Moldova, led by the Director of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), Iulian E. Iorga, participated, for the first time as a member state, in the 187th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organization.
The meeting of the Administrative Council began with a solemn moment dedicated to the Republic of Moldova, by including the Flag of the Republic of Moldova on the official map of the member states located in the Council room, symbolizing the full integration of our country into the family of the European Patent Organization. On this occasion, the delegation of the Republic of Moldova was greeted by Josef Kratochvíl, President of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organization, and by António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office, who addressed an official message of welcome to the Republic of Moldova, expressing appreciation for the successful completion of the accession process and the confidence that our country will actively contribute to the work of the EPO.
In his intervention in the plenary session of the Administrative Council, the Director of AGEPI, Iulian E. Iorga, expressed the gratitude of the Government of the Republic of Moldova to all member states of the European Patent Organization and to the European Patent Office for the support provided during the accession process to the European Patent Convention.
“For the Republic of Moldova, accession to the European Patent Convention represents much more than the completion of a legal procedure. It is a strategic choice and an important stage in the European integration process of our country. At the same time, we are fully aware that accession does not represent the end of this journey, but the beginning of a new stage of responsibility, involvement and contribution. As a member state, the Republic of Moldova is ready to actively collaborate with all member states and the European Patent Office to strengthen and develop the European patent system,” the AGEPI representative noted.
During the two days of work, the Administrative Council examined the main developments regarding the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2028, the annual activity report of the European Patent Office for 2025, developments regarding the digital transformation of the organization, cooperation with member states, patent policy and other strategic topics regarding the development of the European patent system. As a member state, the Republic of Moldova participated for the first time in the decision-making process of the EPO, exercising its rights and responsibilities conferred by the European Patent Convention.
The delegation of the Republic of Moldova also had bilateral discussions with representatives of the European Patent Office and with representatives of several national intellectual property offices from the member states, addressing the prospects for developing cooperation, implementing joint projects and strengthening the institutional capacities of AGEPI.
A special moment of the meeting was the official summer reception organized by the European Patent Office, dedicated this year to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Organization. The event represented an authentic exercise in cultural diplomacy, offering participants the opportunity to discover the cultural heritage and traditions of the Republic of Moldova.
The artistic program was supported by Lavinia Rusu, a young performer from the Republic of Moldova, who is currently carrying out her professional internship at the European Patent Office, in The Hague headquarters, within the program intended for young professionals from the member states of the EPO. Her recital was accompanied by an instrumental band specially brought from Chisinau. The atmosphere of the event was completed by a decor inspired by the national heritage, with a traditional Moldovan carpet in the foreground, as well as a selection of gastronomic products and wines from the Republic of Moldova.
The participation of the AGEPI delegation in the 187th meeting of the Administrative Council, complemented by this moment of cultural diplomacy organized with the support of the European Patent Office, contributed to strengthening the visibility of the Republic of Moldova within the European Patent Organization and to promoting the image of our country as an active and responsible partner of the European community in the field of innovation and intellectual property.
The accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Convention, which entered into force on June 1, 2026, represents one of the most important results in the process of European integration of the national intellectual property system. Through this accession, inventors, researchers and enterprises from the Republic of Moldova benefit from access to one of the most advanced patent protection systems in the world, and our country participates, as a full member, in the development of European policies in the field of patents and innovation.
The participation of the Republic of Moldova in the meeting of the Administrative Council confirms our country’s commitment to actively contribute to strengthening the European patent system and to promoting innovation, competitiveness and knowledge-based economic development, for the benefit of citizens, the business environment and the research community.
