On December 8, 2021, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and the Patent Bureau “Dr. Emil Benatov & Partners” signed a cooperation agreement. On behalf of the University, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs Vitalii Pasichnyk signed the document. From the Patent Bureau, Partner, Patent Attorney of Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Daniel Benatov signed the agreement.
Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Law Yana Tsymbalenko and Head of the Department of Intellectual Property and Private Law Dariia Marits participated in the signing ceremony.
“Dr. Emil Benatov & Partners” is one of the first private property firms in Eastern Europe. Its offices are in Sofia and Kyiv. The Bureau provides services in preserving rights to private property in Ukraine, Bulgaria, the European Union, and other countries. The Bureau’s representative in Kyiv, Daniel Benatov, was born, grew up, and now lives in Ukraine. Moreover, he is an Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute graduate and a former Head of the Students and Postgraduates Scientific Association and Head of the Student Council. And now he is also a lecturer at our University.
Therefore, he is well aware of the possibilities of higher education and the needs of the labor market at the same time. He spoke about the demands at the beginning of the meeting: “Ukraine, like the rest of the world, has an institute of patent attorneys. Unfortunately, so far, a patent attorney is a rather exotic profession. Suffice it to say that there are only 550 patent attorneys in Ukraine. It is not enough for a country like ours, while other countries have more attorneys. At the same time, about half of our specialists are very competent patent engineers, but they are people about to retire. We have a great need new for new staff members. However, young specialists are mostly lawyers without general technical knowledge.”
It is noteworthy that technical knowledge for patent attorneys is not a desirable additional option but a necessity. According to Daniel Benatov, the qualification requirements for patent attorneys stipulate that such specialists must have basic technical or nature-based education, and the second - patent. “It is extremely important that Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has a faculty of sociology and law. Since the faculty is the basis for such a legal-engineering complex and trains novices who would be able to work at the intersection of engineering and law," he said.
Another aspect of cooperation is to ensure the University’s intellectual property acquires relevant rights and its further protection. Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs Vitalii Pasichnyk emphasized, “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has a great potential in solving intellectual property protection problems. We can become a top leader here, and our mission is to help our scientists succeed through their intellectual activity. And, of course, to promote patent attorneys training at our University because their activities are essential today.”
Daniel Benatov said that until recently only the National University “Odessa Law Academy” trained specialists for certification as patent attorneys. But although the state desperately needs such professionals, the certification of new attorneys stopped 5 years ago. The country has no current university that can train new specialists. Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has everything to become such a university. It has the Institute of Postgraduate Education, qualified teaching staff, and other opportunities. According to Daniel Benatov, “Fundamentals of Intellectual Property” should become part of the curriculum for the second-year students, “At University already freshmen and sophomores begin to create objects of intellectual property, take part in science, win some grants. Therefore, they must have relevant knowledge when they are in their first and second year of study.”
The areas of future cooperation envisaged by the agreement include not only updating current study programs, developing and implementing new ones, but also organizing internships for students and research and teaching staff at the Patent Bureau “Dr. Emil Benatov & Partners”. The collaboration also provides for the joint supervision of students' bachelor's and master's theses. One of the areas of future cooperation is to establish a dual form of education at the Faculty of Sociology and Law “to improve the practical component of study based on the individual agreements”, as stated in the agreement document.
“It is very desirable cooperation for our department. Today we signed a memorandum with Mr. Benatov's Buerau. It is vital for us as specialists in law. After all, we have been developing this specialization in recent years,” Dariia Marits said. “Therefore, cooperation will be possible not only in acquiring certain theoretical knowledge and skills but also in developing the practical component. Thus, we will be able to train patent attorneys at our University because we have all the components and opportunities for doing this.”
Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Law Yana Tsymbalenko addressed the students, “The Faculty of Sociology and Law will start a study program to train patent attorneys. While studying, you will gain knowledge that you can apply in the labor market. We are waiting for you!”