Budapest, September 2006

IFIA Executive Committee meeting 2006 was organized in Budapest on September 10. The following agenda was proposed and approved:

Agenda

1. Opening of the session
2. Adoption of the Agenda
3. Reports on ongoing IFIA activities

4. Discussion on new activities

5. Reports on Selected activities by IFIA members

6. Next ExCo Session

7. Other Matters

8. Closing of the Session

1&2. Opening of the session & Adoption of the Agenda

The following Executive Committee members were present and the meeting was officially opened by IFIA President, Mr. Vedres:

• Bosnia, Mr. Husein HUJIC His representative: Robert RENNER
• Estonia, Mr. Edvin NUGIS dr.
• France, Mr. Gerard de VILLEROCHE
• Germany, Mr. Joachim BADER
• Netherlands, Mr. Wouter PYZEL
• Korea, Mr. BAHK Sang-Won (Represented by Mr. András VEDRES dr.)
• Niger, Mr. Hassane Idrissa SOULEY

3. Reports on ongoing IFIA activities

The following reports were provided and approved by the executive committee members.

• IFIA Finances
• IFIA Membership
• IFIA internet and other invention shows
• IFIA President’s activity

4. Discussion on new activities

The following activities were discussed

• Guidelines for exhibitors of inventions
• Organizing of IFIA European Inventors Network (see bellow)
• IFIA Conference and events in 2007

It was proposed to establish IFIA European Inventors’ Network to Foster Innovation which was accepted by IFIA Executive Committee members.

This is a working group of IFIA. It consists of European IFIA members which declare their participation on the IFIA European Inventors’ Network to Foster Innovation (as above Network). The Network means that it is part of IFIA, under the direct authority of the President, and the control of the Executive Committee (ExCo).

The Network will therefore :

(i) implement activities decided by the General Assembly (GA) or the ExCo,

(ii) act under the general or specific instructions of the President,

(iii) suggest new activities to the President,

(iv)report directly to the President.

The geographic sphere of competence of the Network will not be limited to the member countries of the EU, it will be from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural mountain. However, it will have to keep an eye open on the EU policy vis-à-vis some other European countries.

The main functions of the Network will be to :

• Establish and maintain good and regular contacts with the European Parliament, European Commission, through the relevant Directorates, Units in Brussels and Luxembourg.
• Establish and maintain relations with the main lobbies in Brussels, in particular the 2 European NGOs representing the small and medium sized enterprises.
• Establish and maintain relations with some EP Deputies and/or their offices.
• Establish contacts with European Patent Office (EPO).

No additional fees will be requested by IFIA from its members. The expenses of the Network will be paid from the IFIA Budget.

The Network must remain a neutral body, as is the IFIA of which it is part. This means that the Department will :

(i) not advance the cause of any specific country or group of countries,

(ii) implement the policies decided by IFIA GA and/or ExCo.

5. Reports on Selected activities by IFIA members

MIND representative provided a report on Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

6. Next ExCo Session

It was decided to organize the next Executive Committee meeting in Geneva on April 20, 2007 at 11:00 in PALEXPO.

7. Other 

Prof. ONG, President of MINDS was elected as ExCo member. Mr. Pavao Havlicek (Croatia) and Mr. Lennart Nilson (Sweden) were elected as Coordinators by IFIA ExCo.

8. Closing of the session

The President, András Vedres, closed the ExCo meeting.