Interns from Egypt participated in the following ABSP-sponsored IPR internship programs and workshops:

•  MSU / Stanford University Intellectual Property/Patent Internship Program, April 1993. California, USA.

• An International IPR Workshop, July 1994. Washington D.C., USA.

•  An International Internship Program in IPR, Technology Transfer, Use and Management, August 1997. Michigan, USA.

These programs covered the general concepts of patent law and plant variety protection as they affect biotechnology-based plant breeders.

This workshop addressed patent issues related to materials used in and generated by biotechnology projects and counted among its participants scientist, legal professionals and government officials primarily from Egypt.

Workshop’s objectives

•  Review the current status of IPR in North Africa and the Middle East.

•  Provide participants with information on the international patent system and associated organizations (WIPO, UPOV and the PCT).

•  Provide a forum for discussion of IPR issues including patents; plant breeders rights and licensing concepts.

•  Highlight benefits of an IPR framework.

•  Enhance regional networking capabilities in IPR.

A major outcome of the IPR workshop was the initiation of communication between scientists working in biotechnology programs and legislators and policy makers in Egypt. This was their first contact to exchange ideas and to identify the need to incorporate biotechnology products as patentable subject matter.