Monaco has strengthened its ties with France in the realm of intellectual property, following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding with the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The agreement, inked during a high-level visit from INPI Director General Pascal Faure, marks a significant step forward in cross-border IP cooperation.
Faure, accompanied by Jérémie Fenichel, Director of Industrial Property and Companies, and Eric Catapano, PACA Regional Delegate for the Directorate of Economic Action, was hosted in Monaco by Government Advisor and Minister of Finance and Economy Pierre-André Chiappori. The two officials formalised the memorandum with a signing ceremony aimed at aligning their approaches to IP protection.
Under the agreement, Monaco’s Industrial Property Division (IPR), housed within the Directorate of Economic Development, will work closely with INPI on streamlining procedures, sharing resources, and launching joint awareness initiatives under the umbrella of the Alliance francophone de la propriété intellectuelle. The focus is firmly on promoting innovation, safeguarding creators’ rights, and ensuring businesses in both jurisdictions have the tools to navigate the increasingly complex world of IP.
The French delegation also paid a visit to MonacoTech, the Principality’s innovation incubator, where Faure underscored the strategic value of intellectual property as a catalyst for economic growth. Discussions with Stéphan Bruno, Director of the Economic Development Directorate, and Jean-Pierre Santos, Head of the IPR Division, focused on upcoming projects and the broader role of IP in fostering a competitive startup ecosystem.
In a statement issued by the Monegasque Government, the agreement was hailed as a continuation of the robust partnership first formalised in 2006 through the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement. The two sides also maintain close ties through their shared work with the European Patent Office.
The move signals Monaco’s ongoing commitment to protecting innovation and its role as a forward-looking player in international IP affairs — all with a distinctly Francophone flair.
