SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov sent his greetings to the participants and organisers of the 12th Innovative Development through Intellectual Property Market International Forum held on 30 October 2020 at Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL) in Moscow, with support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.
The SCO Secretary-General said topics that are to be discussed at the plenary and other sessions reflect intellectual property's increasing importance and role in creating favourable conditions for any country to establish a firm foundation for economic, social and cultural development in today's quickly changing world.
"It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic raging all over the world has created big problems and difficulties regardless of a countries' size, scale or potential. At the same time, we are optimistic to note our nations' firm determination and ambition to join the efforts to overcome the current difficulties and move forward," Vladimir Norov said.
According to the SCO Secretary-General, the discussion of such topics as the intellectual property market, competitiveness in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, human resource potential, the financial market, the fight against corruption, counterfeit and customs protection of intellectual property will make it possible for the authorised agencies, professionals, businesses, experts and the scientific community to hold a detailed discussion, share experience and best practices and bring international cooperation and interaction in the sphere of intellectual property at a higher level.
Mr Norov said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was actively developing and preparing to mark its 20th anniversary in 2021. In recent years, the SCO has become transcontinental; its prestige and influence in the world is growing; and it has also become the largest sub-regional organisation in the world in terms of overall potential — population, territory, natural resources and GDP.
"The SCO space is a huge market, including for intellectual property, for mutually beneficial and comprehensive trade and economic cooperation and for the implementation of joint projects in almost all economic and social sectors. The global intellectual property market is growing every year, and the SCO member states are stepping up their work in this sphere to encourage our countries' growth and development," Vladimir Norov said.
He also added that the SCO member states were working to implement the updated SCO Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation until 2035, which includes intellectual property and was approved on 2 November 2019 at the SCO Heads of Government Council meeting in Tashkent.
According to the SCO Secretary-General, "given that the SCO member states are also members of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)… this creates additional favourable conditions for enhancing cooperation between our countries in terms of intellectual property, with a special emphasis on the exchange of experience in the protection of intellectual property, exchange of information on member states' intellectual property law, and the discussion and exchange of views on the development of the global intellectual property system."
Vladimir Norov was satisfied to note that the SCO member states were making an increasing contribution to the general work to develop trade, economic, financial and investment cooperation, promotion of cultural and humanitarian ties, building infrastructural, digital and energy interconnectedness and improving the intellectual property sphere in Eurasia in order to establish a broad space of open and mutually beneficial partnership and equal cooperation to ensure reliable security and sustainable development.
In conclusion, the SCO Secretary-General expressed confidence that the experience of the SCO member states that were firmly and progressively developing cooperation in the Shanghai Spirit that embodied mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity and the desire to develop together would help to successfully implement the enormous unused potential for cooperation in the sphere of intellectual property and make it an asset to everyone.
Vladimir Norov also wished the forum participants creative success and an active and productive discussion on issues related to intellectual property.
For reference:
The Innovative Development through Intellectual Property Market International Forum is held annually at Kutafin Moscow State Law University.
Delegations from the EAEU and the CIS countries take part in the forum, which includes representatives from educational and scientific organisations, corporations and enterprises, Russian regional authorities, the EAEU and CIS countries and delegations from European, African and the Arab countries.
The results of forum's public discussions will contribute to national and interstate standards and the development of practical recommendations for the WIPO, WTO, ISO, SCO, CIS, EAEU, the Union State, the Council of Europe and the European Commission as well as national parliaments and governments in Eurasia.
The 12th forum programme includes a plenary session on the topic "Eurasian intellectual property market: Priorities and prospects — 2030" with a presentation of the annual report on the state of legal protection, the use and protection of intellectual property in the EAEU and CIS countries in 2019" and eight sessions where the following topics will be discussed:
Session 1. Intellectual property market and competitiveness in the digital economy (at the national and regional levels);
Session 2. Intellectual property and EAEU financial market — 2025 (credit, insurance, stock exchange);
Session 3. Intellectual property and the competitiveness of enterprises (industrial and corporate level);
Session 4. Intellectual property and efforts against corruption in public procurement related to R&D;
Session 5. Intellectual property and protection against unfair competition in international cooperation;
Session 6. Counterfeit and customs protection for intellectual property;
Session 7. Artificial intelligence and human resources in the intellectual property market;
Session 8. Intellectual property management and KPI.