The State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) participated in the Conference “Regional Development through Smart Specialization”, organized by the North Regional Development Agency in Balti, on November 14, 2024.

The event brought together numerous participants, including representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova, partner regional development institutions from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, exponents from academia, national and international organizations, local public administrations, the private sector and civil society organizations from the north of the country.

The conference provided a framework for discussions on the role of smart specialization in regional development. Among the topics addressed were the importance of smart specialization in the context of regional economic development, the presentation of the National Smart Specialization Program of the Republic of Moldova for 2024-2027, entitled “Smart Moldova”, as well as success stories from the Brasov region, which functions as a regional hub. The challenges and opportunities in smart specialization, funding opportunities for priority areas, supporting innovation in companies, as well as essential aspects related to competition and intellectual property were also discussed.

The event was also attended by Andrei Moisei, Principal Consultant in the Communication and Training Division of AGEPI, who delivered a presentation on the topic “Competitive Aspects and Intellectual Property”. During his presentation, the AGEPI representative presented some statistical data on trademark registration in the northern part of the country and highlighted the importance of intellectual property protection for strengthening competitiveness in various economic sectors, explaining how local enterprises can use intellectual property rights to protect their innovations and better valorize their assets.

AGEPI’s presence at this event reflects the institution’s commitment to contributing to economic development by promoting innovation and the protection of intellectual property rights, essential for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of regions.