National Conference on The Intellectual Property Policy for Universities and Innovations

Two-day National Conference on the Intellectual Property Policy for Universities and Innovations was held at the UNWE. The Forum was organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Institute of Intellectual Property and Leadership (IIPL) of UNWE. At the opening of the event attended Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of the university, Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov, Honorary Rector of the university, Director of IIPL, Head of the Creative Industries and Intellectual Property Department, Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kostadinov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector for Scientific Research Activity, Evgeny Sesitskii from the Department for Transition and Developed Countries of WIPO in Geneva, Vlatka Petrovic, Director of the Center for Research, Development and Technology Transfer at University of Zagreb, Croatia, Dr. Nedeljko Milosavljevic, Director of the Center for Technology Transfer at University of Beograd, Serbia. Among the lecturers there were scientists from the UNWE, University of Finance, Business and Entrepreneurship (VUZF), University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT), Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, Bulgarian Academy of Science and many other institutions.

At the opening of the Forum. From the left to the right: Prof. Goev, Mrs. Petrovic, Mr. Sesitskii, Prof. Stattev, Prof. Borisov, Prof. Kostadinov, Dr. Milosavljevic

The Conference was opened and led by Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov who presented the participants and guests.

“The UNWE is once again a host of an authoritative Forum organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Institute of Intellectual Property and Leadership of the university, pointed out the Rector of UNWE Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev. He greeted the participants from Bulgaria and abroad and assured them that they could always count on the support and assistance by the academic institution.  

In the Large Conference Hall

We succeeded to build up a good university which has obtained the highest accreditation in its basic educational fields and having the largest number of students – 21 434 – among the universities in the country, presented the UNWE Prof. Stattev and emphasized on the merits of the Honorary Rector Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov about that. “I am exclusively impressed by the actual programme of the Forum. For the first time in Bulgaria is held such a large Conference in the field of intellectual property policy for the universities. In this aspect the Institute of Intellectual Property and Leadership will be again a pioneer in this field”, pointed out Prof. Stattev. He also pointed out that the Institute had also been a pioneer, a flagman and the only one of its kind in the country. It is well known fact that the IIPL and the Creative Industries and Intellectual Property Department managed by Prof. Borisov create academic standards for the education and research in intellectual property at the Bulgarian universities.

Prof. Statty Stattev and Prof. Borislav Borisov

The experience, high quality of academic and research activity and the high expertise of scientists and lecturers as well as the close, fruitful and longstanding cooperation with the WIPO are guaranties for the success of today`s Forum, outlined the Rector. He also expressed his confidence that the Conference would contribute significantly to the enrichment of that exclusively important field, that there would be held interesting and essential discussion and practical exercises as well as answers to important issues would be found.

It`s my pleasure to greet you on behalf of WIPO and on behalf of my colleague Richard Frelek, Programme Director of the Department for Transition and Developed Countries of WIPO, pointed out Evgeny Sesitskii. All the people in the hall know about the role and importance of intellectual property for the innovations and economic growth of each country. As a member of UN the WIPO supports intensively the intellectual property development in the member-states of the Organization and promotes the elaboration of national strategies and systems for intellectual property, pointed out the WIPO Chairman. He greeted the UNWE for the excellent organization of the Forum and outlined that the World Organization had considered the great importance of universities as an institutions and place for intellectual property development. Sesitskii expressed his confidence that the UNWE is the most appropriate place for the Forum because of the presence of leading experts in the field of intellectual property.

Evgeny Sesitskii (on the left) is greeting the participants in the Conference.

I am impressed by the topics in the Conference programme , said Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kostadinov. He pointed out the leading role of the main organizer of the Forum – the Institute of Intellectual Property and Leadership as well as the leadership as a mission of Bulgarian universities and the fact that the UNWE is a the leader in the filed of national higher education. The topics are important for Bulgaria, the intellectual property is a guarantee for economic growth, outlined the Deputy Minister of Education and Science.

Prof. Kostadinov (on the right) is greeting the organizers of the Forum.

Global Innovation Index and Introduction to the WIPO Services Related to the Intellectual Property for Universities was the topic of the report delivered by Evgeny Sesitskii. He examined the intellectual property as a key instrument for development, the WIPO role in promoting the innovations and creativity, its support in the elaboration of policies and strategies for the intellectual property. The World Organization provides advices for the national strategies development, supports the researches of transition countries in the field of intellectual property, gathers and disseminates information and statistical data, organizes seminars and trainings, pointed out the lecturer. Sesitskii specified that according to the ranking of WIPO Global Innovation Index 2015 measuring the innovations and their effectiveness Bulgaria had occupied the 39^th place going up with 5 positions compared to 2014. The national innovation policies have an essential importance for the assistance of economic growth in each country, pointed out Sesitskii and cited the words of the WIPO Director General Francis Gurry, Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE: “Innovation holds far-reaching promise for spurring economic growth in countries at all stages of development. However, realizing this promise is not automatic. Each nation must find the right mix of policies to mobilize the innate innovative and creative potential in their economies.”

Participants in the Conference

About the institutional policy of universities in Bulgaria in the field of intellectual property spoke Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kostadinov. He commented on the effectiveness of using the results of scientific researches financed in public which had been very important for the correct intellectual property management, entrepreneurship culture development, good communication, etc. He outlined that most universities in the country had no entrepreneurial mission and mentioned about the lack of measures for mobility of researchers. The intellectual property is involved in the innovations financial returns, pointed out Prof. Kostadinov and commented the timely effective transfer of technologies and their turn into innovations. Prof. Kostadinov emphasized on the role of universities of being a step ahead the society creating a new industry. He examined the EU Programme for the establishment or adjustment of policies to intellectual property and knowledge transfer, recommendations for each member-state, the Code of Good Practices, etc.  

During the discussion followed after it, Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov commented on the thoughtlessness of higher education regulating system. He pointed out that unlike the universities in the EU the Bulgarian universities had been forbidden to realize their scientific product. The university can`t sell its scientific product, each member of its academic staff can sell it but the university can`t do that, said Prof. Borisov. He specified that because of that the Patent Office had no patents of universities. “The Harvard University receives 24 milliard dollars per year for its scientific production by selling its patent-rights. In Bulgaria, however, it is forbidden”, outlined Prof. Borisov. In fact the state forbids a powerful financial resource for universities which can give them an opportunity for better quality of science and education without using the government money, emphasized the Honorary Rector.

Prof. Borisov (in the middle) is commenting some issues related to the creation and realization of innovative products at the universities.

The work of the Forum was organized in working sessions and discussions. Practical exercises in small groups were implemented. The couching session covered the following topics: Intellectual Property Protection Based on the Results of Scientific Researches; Who Manages the Intellectual Property and Which are the Procedures for the Intellectual Property Rights Management – Terms, Financing and Results; Institutional Opportunities to Commercialize the Intellectual Property and Its Reflection on the Property: Transfer of Intellectual Property Rights, Licensing and Creation of Startup Companies; Conflict of Interests, Sharing the Advantages and Policies for Stimulation.

The intellectual property policies for the universities and public scientific research organizations in Bulgaria were discussed in a round table conference.