The 13th BRICS Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting was held virtually on 25th August 2021 under the Chairship of India. ?Shri. Rajendra Ratnoo, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) chaired the meeting. This meeting was attended by Commissioner of CNIPA–China, Dr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of CIPC – South Africa, Adv Rory Voller, President INPI – Brazil, Mr. Cláudio Vilar Furtado and Head of Federal Service for Intellectual Property, ROSPATENT – Russia, Mr. Grigory Ivliev.

All the BRICS member countries have given a presentation on the results achieved and further plans under their respective cooperation streams. Member countries deliberated upon the importance of digital projects and emerging technologies in the processing of the IP applications and measures taken for adoption of such technologies in the functioning of BRICS IP Offices, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Member countries also shared their successful IP practices related to geographical indications, IP awareness, significant importance of IP to the SMME sector, poverty alleviation, IP commercialization and facilitation for IP generation and protection.

The Heads of Intellectual Property BRICS agreed that their aims and objectives were broadly mutually aligned and decided to continue to engage in a spirit of cooperation to finalise the key deliverables.