The EUIPO hosts a visit from the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) hosted a delegation from the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO) for a study visit from 5 to 7 November 2024. The EUIPO led this capacity-building initiative in the context of the EU‑funded IP cooperation project EU4IP.

The purpose of the visit was to share and showcase EU best practices in IP management and to identify synergies and opportunities to foster ongoing cooperation between the EUIPO and the UANIPIO. In an open and conducive learning environment, staff from both offices actively engaged in discussing IP administration issues focusing on converging working practices in line with those of the European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN).

The Ukrainian delegates were welcomed by Mr Sandris Laganovskis, Director of the Cooperation and Partnerships Department of the EUIPO, along with colleagues from various EUIPO departments. The UANIPIO delegation was headed by Mr Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director, and Mr Vladyslav Bilotskyi, Deputy Director. They were joined by six colleagues from the Ukrainian IP Office with diverse managerial and technical backgrounds, covering trade marks, designs, geographical indications and IP enforcement as well as communications.

Discussions covered the implementation of EUIPN tools and practices in the context of international cooperation. Best practices were also exchanged on examining absolute and relative grounds, drafting decisions and the use IP tools by examiners. Appeal procedures, workflow and representation before the courts were also discussed.

Other topics included: quality management systems, updating examination guidelines, IP networking and outreach, promoting IP owner networks and SME support initiatives, awareness raising, IP in the digital world, and the accessibility of online IP courses. The meetings provided an opportunity for UANIPIO and EUIPO staff to learn from each other’s expertise, improve best practices, and promote cooperation on IP issues.

This visit is a testament to the EUIPO's commitment to fostering closer ties and cooperation with EU candidate countries, such as Ukraine, and to lead strong IP alliances with like-minded IP organisations such as the UANIPIO, with a focus on aligning their IP systems with EU standards and practices.