On 17 September 2026, the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), António Campinos, paid an official visit to the Republic of Moldova, during which he held meetings with the Minister of Justice, Vladislav Cojuhari, and the leadership of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI).
The visit took place shortly after the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) on 1 June 2026 and provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the EPO and national intellectual property institutions, as well as to discuss prospects for developing the national intellectual property system in the context of new technological developments.
EPO: a partner in developing the Republic of Moldova’s innovation capacity
During the meeting with Minister of Justice Vladislav Cojuhari, EPO President António Campinos highlighted the role of intellectual property and the patent system in supporting competitiveness and innovation in Europe.
Discussions focused on the support the EPO is prepared to provide to the Republic of Moldova to strengthen the country’s entrepreneurial and innovative capacity, including through the development of a network of information and consultancy centers across the country. These centers could help facilitate access for enterprises, researchers, and innovators to technological information and patent system tools, as well as enable their use in developing innovative and competitive businesses.
The EPO President also emphasized the importance of AGEPI as a national center of expertise in the field of intellectual property and the need to leverage this expertise to support the development of a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
The Minister of Justice welcomed the EPO President’s visit to Chișinău and reiterated the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to developing a modern, predictable intellectual property system aligned with European standards, thanking the European official for his openness and willingness to support the Republic of Moldova’s priorities and needs.
Strengthening cooperation between the EPO and AGEPI
During his visit to AGEPI, the EPO President held a bilateral meeting with AGEPI Deputy Director Natalia Mogol, discussions being focused on strengthening cooperation between the two institutions, including through the negotiation and signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the EPO and AGEPI.
António Campinos commended the agency and the AGEPI team for the performance and professionalism demonstrated during the process of the Republic of Moldova’s integration into the European patent area. He also presented EPO programs designed for the national patent offices of member states, including AGEPI, aimed at strengthening institutional and professional capacities, driving digital transformation, and modernizing intellectual property services, including through the use of new technologies.
For her part, Natalia Mogol highlighted the importance of the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Patent Convention for strengthening the national patent system, fostering an innovation-friendly environment, and advancing the country’s European integration process.
The discussions also addressed ways to support inventors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research institutions, as well as the role of patent information as a source of technological knowledge and technical solutions that can contribute to the development of innovative products and services and the creation of successful businesses.
Dialogue with AGEPI staff on the future of the patent system
A key moment of the visit was the meeting of the EPO President with the AGEPI staff, which provided an opportunity for direct dialogue and an exchange of views on developments and priorities in the patent field amidst rapid technological transformation.
Addressing the role of artificial intelligence in the invention protection system, the EPO President emphasized the importance of expertise and the human factor, particularly in ensuring the sustainable development of the intellectual property system and the responsible, efficient use of new AI-based technological tools.
The discussions highlighted the need for technological evolution to be accompanied by the continuous professional development of intellectual property specialists, enabling them to fully leverage new tools and technologies for the benefit of system users.
Future-oriented cooperation
The official visit of the President of the European Patent Office to the Republic of Moldova reaffirms the importance of cooperation between the EPO and AGEPI and opens up new prospects for strengthening the Agency’s institutional and professional capacities.
Future cooperation can contribute to developing the skills of specialists, modernizing services, digitizing processes, and leveraging new technologies, including artificial intelligence. In this context, a strong and modern intellectual property office constitutes a key element of the Republic of Moldova’s innovation infrastructure and of the country’s ability to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by integration into the European patent system and by new technological developments.
