{"id":20589,"date":"2025-11-19T14:41:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T12:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.obi.gr\/?p=20589"},"modified":"2025-11-19T14:42:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T12:42:02","slug":"educational-visit-of-a-delegation-from-the-directorate-of-industrial-development-of-the-ministry-of-industry-and-trade-of-benin-athens-12-14-11-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.obi.gr\/en\/educational-visit-of-a-delegation-from-the-directorate-of-industrial-development-of-the-ministry-of-industry-and-trade-of-benin-athens-12-14-11-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Educational visit of a delegation from the Directorate of Industrial Development of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Benin, Athens, 12\u201314\/11\/2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the framework of a technical assistance program provided by the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) to the Directorate of Industrial Development of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Benin, a three-member delegation from the said Directorate visited Athens from 12 to 14 November 2025.<\/strong> The delegation consisted of Mr. Jeremie Dovoedo<\/strong>, Mr. Roufai Sarhabilou Ad\u00e9kambi<\/strong>, and Ms. Rosalie Hounkannon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The program is implemented by the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) in cooperation with the European Public Law Organization (EPLO)<\/a>, and aims at strengthening Benin\u2019s industrial property ecosystem.<\/p>\n

During the visit, OBI officials (K. Margellou<\/a>, \u039c. Lamprou Maurer<\/a>, \u0391. Pittaras, L. Galonis<\/a>) <\/strong>presented to the participants the structure and operation of the Organisation, as well as the online system for filing applications and registering industrial property rights.<\/p>\n

The participants were also informed about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the patent examination process, while recent legislative developments in the field of industrial property and awareness-raising actions for the public and businesses on the importance of industrial property protection were presented. The program included a visit to OBI\u2019s titles archive and a demonstration of the artificial intelligence tool (THALES) developed by OBI.<\/p>\n

An expert from the Ministry of Rural Development and Food presented the protection of traditional local products through the registration of PDO\/PGI\/TSG indications, as well as the practices adopted by Greek producers to safeguard the related rights.<\/p>\n

The visit concluded at the 1st Customs Office of Piraeus, where the procedure for seizing counterfeit and imitation products was presented.<\/p>\n

Ms. Katerina Margellou, Deputy Director General of OBI and Director of Legal Support, highlighted the importance of cooperation between the two national authorities for the benefit of the industrial property ecosystem.<\/p>\n