On October 17, 2025, the headquarters of the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) in Casablanca hosted the first conference of the Francophone Intellectual Property Alliance . This historic meeting brought together Directors General of intellectual property (IP) institutions, policymakers, experts, and creators from the Francophone world around a common goal: to strengthen cooperation and define innovative strategies to address the challenges related to intellectual property in the Francophone world.
A ceremony that opens a forum for discussions on the promotion of Francophone intellectual property
The day began with an official ceremony, featuring a speech by Mr. Ryad Mezzour , Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco. In his address, Mr. Mezzour welcomed the delegations present and emphasized the importance of promoting research and innovation in French to support the technological development of the Alliance's member countries.
The Vice-President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) then emphasized the need to transform intellectual property into a measurable competitive advantage, citing South Korea as an example. The Director General of the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), Abdelaziz Babqiqi , presented encouraging statistics on the progress of industrial property operations within his office, while also highlighting the ongoing efforts required.
Directors-General and representatives of partner institutions also spoke to share their vision of the strategic role of intellectual property in the development of Francophone countries. Among them were:
- Mr. Pascal Faure , Director General of INPI France
- Mr. George Ghandour , representative of the Director General of WIPO – WIPO
A high-level panel for a shared vision
The second highlight of the event was an opening panel discussion bringing together the Directors General to discuss Francophone cooperation. Each reaffirmed their commitment to building a shared vision of intellectual property, based on the sharing of expertise, the pooling of resources, and the strengthening of partnerships.
Participants in this panel included:
- Mr. Jean-Pierre Santos, Director General of the Monaco Industrial Property Office (MCIPO)
- Mr. Mondésir Oualou Panouala , Deputy Director General of OAPI, representing the Director General
- Mr. Gilles Requena, Director of Patent Research and Policy at the European Patent Office (EPO)
Roundtables focused on the future
The final session of the day was devoted to two thematic round tables, the first of which focused on the evolution of intellectual property in the age of new technologies, with rich discussions on the issues related to artificial intelligence , digital technology and the transformation of innovation models.
The second highlighted the role of geographical indications as a tool for sustainable development, particularly in the service of women in the Francophone world.
Distinctions and promising prospects
Prior to the roundtables, several partner institutions were recognized for their commitment. On this occasion, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) received an award of excellence for its exemplary cooperation with the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC). Faced with the profound changes in our societies, the production and development of intellectual property in French appear as a strategic lever for ensuring the place of Francophone states in tomorrow's global economy
This first Alliance event paves the way for an ambitious dynamic, with promising prospects for future meetings.
