30 Years of EAPO: Protecting Innovation Across Eurasia

Marking 30 Years of EAPO: Safeguarding Innovation in the Eurasian Region

This year marks a significant milestone in the realm of intellectual property (IP) protection – the 30th anniversary of the Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC), an intergovernmental organization that has been instrumental in fostering innovation and collaboration across the Eurasian region. Since its establishment in 1994, the Eurasian Patent Convention has served as a vital framework, streamlining the patent process and ensuring a unified approach to IP protection across multiple countries.

The EAPC is more than just a legal framework; it represents a key pillar in the Eurasian intellectual property ecosystem, enabling innovators to protect their ideas across multiple countries through a single patent. This regional approach to IP protection ensures that innovators can focus on developing technologies, driving economic growth, and tackling global challenges without the complexities of individual patent filings in multiple jurisdictions.

Why the Eurasian Patent Convention is Essential for Innovation

Over the past three decades, the Eurasian Patent Convention has served as a critical tool for harmonizing IP laws across its member states. By offering a unified and efficient patenting process, the convention empowers inventors, research institutions, and companies to obtain Eurasian patents that are recognized across eight member states (namely Turkmenistan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia covering more that 210 million of inhabitants). This facilitates trade, investment, and technology transfer within the region, aligning with global trends in innovation and IP protection.

Trade integration with EURASIAN countries, Customs Union (2020) of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan increases the importance of regional protection.

Some of the key aspects of the convention include:

• Harmonization of IP Rights: The Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) plays a pivotal role in aligning patent practices across the region, ensuring that businesses and innovators benefit from consistent and reliable protection.
• Economic and Technological Integration: Through the promotion of intellectual property, the EAPC supports the ongoing development of innovation ecosystems in Kazakhstan, Belarus, and other member states.
• Cross-Border Protection: With the EAPC, businesses can secure patents across multiple countries in the Eurasian region with a single application, fostering regional protection and safeguarding innovations from counterfeiters and unauthorized use.
• Eurasian patents protecting pharmaceuticals may be extended in respect of certain member states of the Convention by way of filing a PTE.

30 Years of Growth and Achievement

The past three decades have seen significant developments in the Eurasian patent system. The EAPO has adapted to changing technological and economic landscapes, introducing, design as a new IP object to its framework. The continuous modernization of IP laws and the strengthening of international cooperation have made the Eurasian patent system a model for regional intellectual property protection.

Moreover, the EAPO’s role in promoting innovation goes beyond patent grants. Initiatives such as the development of the Eurasian Dispute Resolution System, as well as educational projects aimed at boosting the capacity of technoparks and research institutions, are vital for encouraging R&D across the region. These measures ensure that IP protection continues to evolve, meeting the needs of modern industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy.

At Katzarov SA, we are proud to have been part of this journey from its inception, offering expert intellectual property services that help innovators (individual’s, SME’s, Multinational compagnies) protect their ideas in the Eurasian market. Whether you’re developing new technologies or expanding your operations, we are here to assist you through the whole process (including extensions of pharmaceutical patents), ensuring your intellectual property rights are secure.

Contact us to learn more about how we can support your IP needs in the Eurasian market and beyond.

Prepared by Gilles Pfend, Yuliia Chyzhova, Andrea Manola & Viktoriia Didur

Read More