The Galaxea Foundation with support from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador) and Universidad El Bosque (Colombia) proudly organized the Innovation Seminar 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 23-24. The event, focused in the health care sector, brought together experts from around the world to discuss the critical role of intellectual property (IP) and innovation in fostering economic and technological advancement across Latin America. Opening the seminar, Andrew Jenner, Director General of Interpat (UK), emphasized the importance of global collaboration in intellectual property, laying the groundwork for the dynamic discussions that followed.
The first session, titled Global Perspectives on IP in Latin America, saw speakers explore IP policies that can enable a supportive environment for innovation in the region. Érica Leite from INPI (Brazil), Fernando Portugal from AMIIF (Mexico), María Vazquez, Dean of Law at Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina), and Argentine National Deputy Martin Yeza offered insights into the diverse approaches Latin American countries are taking to strengthen IP frameworks. Moderated by Xavier Rosales of Corral Rosales (Ecuador), this panel highlighted the potential for policy alignment to drive regional progress in intellectual property.
Next, Exploring Patent Term Extensions and Adjustments in Latin America brought into focus the need for suitable patent terms that reflect each country’s legislation and innovation landscape. With Karla Olvera from Olivares (Mexico) as moderator, panelists Bettina Wanner of Bayer (Germany), Maria Isabel Giacchetti de Moraes from Sanofi (Brazil), Hon. Judge Pamela Fitch of Chile’s IP Court, and Hon. Judge Ximena Velastegui of Ecuador’s National Court of Justice examined different mechanisms for patent term adjustments. Their discussion underscored the necessity of balancing robust patent protection with accessibility.
The third panel, Creating Alliances via Tech Transfer for a Robust Innovation Ecosystem, explored the roles that various stakeholders play in the tech transfer process. Moderated by Fernando García of Carey (Chile), Gonzalo Rovira from Bayer (Argentina), Carlos Felipe Escobar of Universidad El Bosque (Colombia), Simone Sayuri Tsuneda from Embrapa (Brazil), and Javier Varisco from Moolec Science (Argentina) shared their experiences. They discussed how technology transfer can be effectively facilitated by government support, ultimately strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.
The day concluded with Strengthening the Patent System: Building a More Robust Framework for Latin America, a session that addressed the nuanced criteria for granting patents across Latin American countries. Speakers included Monica Lupi of CAEME (Argentina), Jörg Thomaier from Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH (Germany), Lucas Matías Lehtinen of Universidad Austral (Argentina), and Brazilian IP consultant Ana Carolina Cagnoni. Moderated by Alexander Agudelo from OlarteMoure (Colombia), the panel reflected on how country-specific approaches to patent criteria impact economic growth and the broader innovation landscape.
Day two commenced with opening remarks from Hon. Judge Alfredo Gusman of Argentina’s Federal Civil and Commercial National Court of Appeals and Hon. Judge Francisco Medina Padilla from Mexico’s Federal Court for Administrative Justice. Their insights set the stage for a thoughtful debate on the judicial challenges and opportunities surrounding intellectual property in Latin America.
The morning’s discussions continued with Innovation & Access: Debating Compulsory and Voluntary Licensing, where speakers debated the complex issue of licensing. Ana Castro of Lloreda Camacho (Colombia) moderated a panel featuring Corey Salsberg from Novartis (USA), Raquel Sorza from FIFARMA (Colombia), Anjam Aziz from Interpat (USA), Hon. Judge Íñigo Salvador Crespo of the Andean Community Court of Justice (Ecuador), and Gloria Alonso Masmela, former Colombian Planning Director. They examined the conditions under which compulsory licensing might apply, along with potential risks to patent frameworks.
Concluding the seminar, Experiences with Multilateral Institutions and Instruments in Latin America underscored the importance of global standards for innovation, particularly in life sciences. Moderated by Cristian Bittel of Marval O’Farrell & Mairal (Argentina), speakers David Pinto from INAPI (Chile), Jon Santamauro from AbbVie (USA), Pamela Echeverria from USPTO (Argentina), and Alexandre Dantas from INPI (Brazil) discussed how these international frameworks shape regional IP policies and foster an environment for innovation.
The Innovation Seminar 2024, led by the Galaxea Foundation, underscored intellectual property’s vital role in building a resilient and innovative Latin American ecosystem. Through this collaborative event, Galaxea Foundation reaffirms its commitment to advancing sustainable development in the region, promoting policies that nurture innovation and protect IP.