On World Intellectual Property Day, the Minister of Economy and Industry Nikola Stojanov met with the President of the Boards of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) Joao Negrao. The Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic in Bulgaria H.E. Ana Maria Ribeiro da Silva and the President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria prof. Vladia Borisova.
The possibilities for European funding and support for enterprises were discussed, so that the European aid could be adapted to the specificities of the Bulgarian economy. ‘The protection of intellectual property rights is essential for the economic growth of any country and this is what makes the topic so topical and important’, said Minister Nikola Stojanov.
In connection with the forum held earlier today, organized by the Patent Office and EUIPO, Minister Stojanov stressed that such discussions are extremely important because they raise the awareness of consumers and businesses. ‘The protection of intellectual property is a topic that is still not well enough known in our country and it is our common responsibility to work to promote its benefits,’ said Minister Nikola Stojanov.
Joao Negrao emphasized the good cooperation between the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Patent Office and said that the Bulgarian structure is one of the good examples at European level and works actively to support business and innovative solutions. ‘We need to concentrate our efforts in attracting small and medium-sized enterprises, because at the moment their share is only 10%,’ said the chairman of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal.