At the end of October, the Baltic States conference on the activities of the Technology Transfer Offices Network took place in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It was organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Baltic universities’ Technology Transfer Offices (TTO).
Rectors and TTO representatives of the Baltic universities from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as WIPO high-level officials and experts took part in the conference. The Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia was represented at this important forum by Mr. Eriks Rēkis, Deputy Director of the Patent Office, Director of the Administrative and Financial Department, and Ms. Viktorija Kasara, Project Coordinator at the Development and International Cooperation Department.
In addition to the exchange of experiences on the creation of the Baltic TTO Network and following a discussion on the strengthening of innovation ecosystems in the Baltic region, a memorandum of understanding was signed, on the basis of which WIPO will provide expert assistance to the Baltic TTO Network.
Opening the conference, Mr. Marco Aleman, Assistant Director General of WIPO IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, expressed his satisfaction with the fruitful cooperation with colleagues from the Baltic States, highlighting the growing importance of innovation and intellectual property in the Baltic region.
Addressing the participants of the conference, the Deputy Director of the Patent Office, Mr. Eriks Rēkis stated: "Nowadays, innovation and technology transfer are essential for the development and well-being of every country and society. National TTO are the driving force for the effective use of the latest scientific and technological achievements.
Innovation and technology transfer support structures in the Baltic region operate to provide incentives, encouragement and assistance to inventors, entrepreneurs and innovative companies, as well as to commercialize new inventions, products, and services.
Our cooperation is the most effective way to obtain the necessary information, knowledge and practical skills in the field of technology transfer and intellectual property."
One of the key issues discussed at the conference was about how to improve the innovation ecosystem in the Baltic region. The Rector of the University of Latvia (UL) Indriķis Muižnieks stressed: "Scientific institutions, including UL, are facing new challenges related to the emergence of new and not always patentable intellectual property objects. Solutions must be found to protect this intellectual property and promote commercialization." He also mentioned the planned construction of the Technology House in the UL Academic Center, which will be a Baltic-wide center for innovation.
At the conference, the Cooperation Agreement was signed between WIPO and the national TTO Networks of the Baltic States on further expansion of cooperation. It defines the future areas of cooperation - strengthening the skills and abilities of researchers and network members, providing assistance in the protection of intellectual property, ensuring wider access to scientific innovation.
The participants of the forum discussed very ambitious goals. For example, how to make the Baltic TTO Network a prominent, creative player in the field of global technology transfer. They also addressed the role of intellectual property in biotechnology, its importance for academic institutions, and other relevant issues.