Acting Rector of Kutaisi International University (KIU) and Director of Kutaisi University Campus, Mr. Vakhtang Tsagareli took part in an international conference titled "From Research to Results — The Role of Patents in Technology Transfer." The conference was opened by Head of the Government Administration of Georgia, Dr. Levan Zhorzholiani.
Welcome speeches were given by the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, Mr. Givi Mikanadze, President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Mr. António Campinos, Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, Ms. Nino Tsilosani, Chairman of Sakpatenti, Mr. Soso Giorgadze, Principal Director of European Patent Office (EPO) Academy, Mr. Xavier Seuba.
The conference focused on patents — what they are, how they provide legal protection for inventions, how they reduce business risks, and how they make the commercialization of technology more predictable.
The event brought together government officials, academics, and international partners. Key topics included the role of universities and research centres in driving innovation, how to build stronger innovation ecosystems, ways to transfer technology from research to practice, and the use of patents as tools of legal protection.
The second part of the conference was dedicated to panel discussions. KIU's Acting Rector, Mr. Vakhtang Tsagareli, spoke about the vital role universities play in building modern innovation ecosystems. He also discussed KIU's strong partnership with Sakpatenti and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) — a partnership that led to the creation of an international master's programme at KIU: "Intellectual Property, Innovations and Entrepreneurship."
This programme is one of a kind in the region. It is designed to prepare skilled specialists in intellectual property, both locally and internationally. Classes are taught by Georgian academics alongside highly qualified international professors selected by the WIPO Academy, ensuring the programme meets international standards and reflects current global practice.
The conference was organised by Sakpatenti. Notably, the visit of Mr Campinos came shortly after Georgia formally applied to join the European Patent Convention (EPC), bringing the country closer to full membership of the European Patent Organisation. Georgia has also recently introduced a system for validating European patents, which means that European patents are now legally recognised in Georgia.
