Kyiv hosted the 'Intellectual Property in the Defense Sector' conference

Attendees at the event included representatives from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defense companies, businesses, volunteer organizations, and foreign guests.

First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, stated that the Ministry of Defence has conducted an in-depth review of intellectual property rights protection and has set up a dedicated department within the Main Directorate of Military Justice.

“A thorough benchmarking process was carried out to gain insight into developed countries' intellectual property standards and regulations. This is crucial as Ukraine progresses rapidly, particularly in the defense sector. It is necessary to enhance the awareness of intellectual property and the mechanisms that ensure its protection. This plays a significant role in our cooperation with partner nations and in developing technology and manufacturing capabilities within our country,” said Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk.

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Valerii Churkin emphasized that there was significant innovation growth and a technology boom during the war, making the development of intellectual property protection mechanisms essential.

“Ensuring intellectual property protection is essential when establishing joint ventures with foreign companies. This is one of the crucial matters for our partners, as it influences the practical implementation of projects and the funding of weapons production. Today, new technological solutions are being developed on the battlefield, with progress in their transfer and the regulation of partnerships between the state and private sectors. We are committed to speeding up the advancement of the framework designed to safeguard intellectual property rights,” said Valerii Churkin. 

Ilia Kostin, a representative of the Main Directorate of Military Justice, briefed the audience on the situation regarding intellectual property rights protection in the defense sector, compared the practices of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and russia, and presented a roadmap for reform.

During the discussion, representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence, the Verkhovna Rada, as well as business and volunteer organizations, shared their perspectives on legislative initiatives in the area of intellectual property rights protection.