EPO strengthens ties with Francophone IP community at first annual meeting

The European Patent Office (EPO), represented by Chief Patent Research and Policy Officer Gilles Requena, took part in the first annual meeting of the Alliance Francophone de la Propriété Intellectuelle (l’Alliance) on 17 October in Casablanca.

Hosted by the Moroccan Office of Industrial Property and Commerce (OMPIC), the event marked the first anniversary of the Alliance, which was launched in Paris in 2024. By bringing together IP offices, international organisations, academia and innovation stakeholders, the Alliance aims to build stronger links within the Francophone IP community and promote the contribution of intellectual property to sustainable economic and social development.

The meeting in Casablanca brought together stakeholders from across the French-speaking IP community. It was opened by Moroccan Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour, with welcome remarks by the Director General of the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI France) Pascal Faure, OMPIC Director General Abdelaziz Babqiqi, and WIPO’s Senior Counselor George Ghandour. High-level roundtables explored the latest developments in intellectual property in the era of new technologies and highlighted the role of geographical indications in fostering sustainable development and empowering women in the Francophone world.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships, review shared priorities and explore new opportunities for collaboration. The ensuing discussions underscored the participants' commitment to building a more inclusive, dynamic and resilient innovation ecosystem.

About the Alliance

Supported by INPI France, the Alliance is an informal network that brings together national IP offices, international and regional organisations, academic institutions and innovation stakeholders. It aims to strengthen French-speaking expertise in intellectual property by fostering knowledge sharing, promoting greater alignment across IP systems and raising the profile of training and research institutions in Francophone countries.

The EPO participates in the Alliance as an observer, reaffirming commitment to multilingualism and inclusive co-operation within the global IP system. EPO’s contributions include IP-related training in the French language, outreach materials, and resources developed by the European Patent Academy and the Observatory on Patents and Technology. The Observatory’s work in analysing the links between innovation, patents and wider societal challenges provides valuable input for the Alliance knowledge-sharing activities. The EPO also promotes the Knowledge Transfer to Africa (KT2A) initiative, which complements the Alliance mission by supporting innovation capacity and sustainable development across Francophone Africa.