The State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) signed on May 13, this year, a Memorandum of Understanding with the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The signing took place in the context of the participation of the Director General of AGEPI, Eugeniu Rusu, and the Director General of INPI, Pascal Faure, in the Diplomatic Conference to Conclude an International Legal Instrument Relating to Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources, organized by to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 13-24 May 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The relations between AGEPI and INPI have a history of over 20 years, the first Technical Cooperation Agreement between the two offices being signed in 2001. The current Memorandum of Understanding comes to strengthen bilateral relations between the Republic of Moldova and France in the field of intellectual property and to contribute to the creation of a strategic partnership between the two specialized institutions. Also, the Memorandum provides for the exchange of information, knowledge and experiences in all areas of activity of the offices, including in matters of examination and grant of protection, training and improvement of staff, promotion of intellectual property knowledge and increase of general culture in the field, etc.

During the bilateral meeting, the Director General of AGEPI wanted to mention that this collaboration comes to support the priority objectives of the Republic of Moldova to join the European Union, providing a solid framework for the alignment and improvement of legislation and practices in the field of intellectual property.