About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

WIPO Director General Visits Czech Republic, Marks Centenary of Industrial Property Office Opening

September 19, 2019

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry visited the Czech Republic for meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček and to mark the Czech Industrial Property Office’s 100th anniversary.

Messrs. Gurry and Petříček met in Prague. (Photos: courtesy of Czech government)

"The commitment over 100 years of the Czech Republic to multilateralism in general and to multilateralism or international cooperation in the field of intellectual property is really quite extraordinary," Mr. Gurry said in remarks at a ceremony marking the office’s anniversary.

Now, with the innovation strategy that is being adopted by the Czech Republic, as well as the great energy we have seen across 100 years, this augurs extremely well for the Czech Republic’s place in a world in which technology is increasingly the basis of economic prosperity and economic competitiveness.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry

The topics of discussion between Messrs. Gurry and Petříček included the increasing importance of intellectual property (IP) in European and global affairs. Messrs. Gurry and Petříček each praised the strong bilateral cooperation between WIPO and the Czech Republic and promised mutual support in the future in promoting IP’s role in innovation and the creation of new technologies.

Mr. Gurry met later with Mr. Havlíček for bilateral discussions that included the Czech Republic’s new innovation strategy, the Global Innovation Index and the Czech Government’s priority on early-age education.

Mr. Gurry traveled to Prague to join in the commemoration of the Industrial Property Office’s 100th anniversary, led by its President Josef Kratochvíl.

Mr. Gurry presents the WIPO Medal for Creativity to
Professor Ladislav Jakl for his contribution to the
development of IP rights protection in the Czech Republic.
(Photo: )

At the gala event hosted by the Industrial Property Office at the historic Prague Castle, Mr. Gurry received a recognition award from Mr. Havlíček for Mr. Gurry’s contribution to the development of the IP system around the world, as well as for promoting knowledge and fostering innovation.

Mr. Gurry also presented the WIPO Medal for Creativity to Professor Ladislav Jakl, former President of the Industrial Property Office, for Mr. Jakl’s contribution to the development of IP rights protection in the Czech Republic.