The IX Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions started its work in Grodno, Republic of Belarus. At the Forum, the delegation of the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) took part in the seminar “Development of a network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) in Belarus. The importance of geographical indications for the protection of national brands”.

EAPO Vice-President Armen Azizyan spoke at the opening of the seminar. He emphasized the importance of the TISCs mission in raising public awareness of intellectual property issues.

The EAPO Vice-President informed on the EAPO's activities on providing access to technical knowledge and possibilities of increasing the efficiency of patent information use.

An award ceremony for Belarusian prize and diploma winners of the Eurasian Patent Universiade "Advancing the Future" was also held during the seminar.

In the workshop, Denis Zastavny, head of the Division for the Development of Paperless Information Technologies, Patent Information and Automation Department, EAPO, demonstrated the EAPO’s tools for electronic interaction with applicants at all stages of the Eurasian patent procedure, as well as its information and retrieval resources.