Meeting on Intellectual Property

By Estudio Chaloupka

Argentinian Government authorities and businessmen gathered for an Intellectual Property activity at the Scientific and Technological Pole, sharing common initiatives and problems related to analyze how to improve the national ecosystem of science, technology and innovation.

The meeting was conducted by the secretary of Planning and Policies in Science, Technology and Innovation, Diego Hurtado. “For us, IP is a fundamental issue that occupies an important place in our innovation goals for 2030,” Hurtado said.

Participants discussed on the production and appropriation of intangible assets in Argentina and the region, their role in the development of the country and the importance of promoting knowledge.

Argentina’s transition to an all-electronic patent and trademark filing system has allowed for increased efficiency in the processing of filings. There were a record number of 115,000 trademark filings in 2021 alone, and the national IP office (INPI) granted 117,800 trademarks.

In its latest special report of the global state of IP rights, the United States Trade Representative welcomed Argentina’s enhancements. To further improve patent protection in Argentina, including for small and medium-sized enterprises, the United States urged Argentina to ratify the Patent Cooperation Treaty and to ensure transparency and procedural fairness in the protection of geographical indications (GIs) and to ensure that the grant of GI protection does not deprive interested parties of the ability to use common names, particularly as Argentina proceeds with the European Union-Mercosur Trade agreement.