The Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) of the University of Strasbourg is delighted to have organised the seminar “Intellectual Property, Economic Security and Emerging Technologies”, held from 5 to 7 October 2026 in Strasbourg.
This seminar was organised in collaboration with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in Saudi Arabia. We were hosted at the premises of the National Institute of Public Service (INSP) in Strasbourg.
We were delighted to welcome around forty participants from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan, including experts and specialists from the relevant authorities in the fields of security, justice, science, health and trade, as well as judges, prosecutors, police officers, specialists in intellectual property matters, investigators, researchers and civil servants responsible for border control and the fight against fraud, counterfeiting and smuggling.
The aim of the seminar was to share Arab and French experiences and expertise in the fields of industrial property, innovation and economic security; as well as to raise awareness of the multidimensional impacts of counterfeiting, particularly on the economy, security, public health and the environment, and to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with artificial intelligence, particularly its relationship with intellectual property and its use in the fight against counterfeiting.
The seminar was opened by Mr. Yann Basire, Director General of the Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) of the University of Strasbourg, in the presence of Ms. Frédérique Berrod, President of the University of Strasbourg, and His Excellency Mr. Khalid ben Abdulaziz Alharfash, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences and Vice-President for Foreign Relations.
This seminar, now in its 4th edition, was organised in collaboration with the INPI, notably Ms. Jinane Kabbara, Regional Intellectual Property Counsellor – Western Eurasia and the Middle East – INPI Expert, and Ms. Céline Boisseau, Head of the INPI’s International Network Division.
The main themes discussed during the sessions centred on presenting intellectual property as an economic and strategic issue, followed by a presentation on the economic and security impacts of counterfeiting and other cross-cutting issues such as artificial intelligence, as well as the role of governance and cooperation in effectively combating counterfeiting.
Speakers included university lecturers, experts and professionals specialising in the topics covered, from both France and the Arab world, notably Ms. Emilie Gallois, Head of the Research and Partnerships Division at the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), France; Mr. Frédéric Portal, Lawyer at the Unified Patent Court – Member of the Paris Bar – European Patent Attorney – former President of LES France; Mr. Bandar BIN MUTLAQ AL-THUBAITI, Adviser – Patent Office of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Saudi Arabia; Mr. Diogo COSTA CUNHA, Senior Lecturer at CEIPI, University of Strasbourg; Mr. Romain SOUSTELLE, Research Assistant at CEIPI, University of Strasbourg; Ms. Caroline ALLHEILY, Head of International Affairs, Leem – The Pharmaceutical Industry Association; Mr. Jean-Marc DELTORN, Professor at CEIPI, University of Strasbourg; Ms. Elodie MIGLIORE, PhD student and research assistant, CEIPI, University of Strasbourg; Ms. Abeer bint Zaher AL-ALMAI, Adviser to His Excellency the President of King Khaled University on the commercialisation of intellectual property – Director of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) – Inventor/Assistant Professor in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Computer Science; Ms. Roba HAMAM, Partner and General Counsel, AÏP Genius – Bahrain; Mr. Frank SAUNIER-PLUMAZ, Managing Partner at NS AVOCATS, France; Mr. Mathieu GIGLEUX, Investigator, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), European Union; Ms. Delphine SARFATI-SOBREIRA, Chief Executive – UNIFAB France; Mr. Malek HANNOUF, Head of the Legal and Intellectual Property Department – Louis Vuitton, and Chair of the Gulf Brand Owners Group, United Arab Emirates (UAE); and Mr. David SAUSSINAN, Head of Intellectual Property Compliance, Temu France.
The final day of the seminar concluded with a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, offering participants the opportunity to discover this major institution of the European Union, how it operates, its organisation and its key roles in the European legislative process. This visit provided a better understanding of the European Parliament’s role in shaping EU policies, representing European citizens and exercising democratic oversight of the European institutions. On this occasion, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Ms. Fabienne KELLER, Member of the European Parliament, whom we would like to thank for her availability and for the time she devoted to this exchange.
On the sidelines of the seminar, a cooperation agreement was signed between CEIPI and NAUSS, marking an important step in strengthening relations between the two institutions. This agreement aims to develop their collaboration in their respective fields of expertise, notably through academic and scientific exchanges, knowledge-sharing and the implementation of joint projects.
