Vice-Rector Antolović and Head of the International Relations Office at the Catholic University of Valencia

From October 19 to 23, 2026, within the framework of the Erasmus+ program, the Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Roberto Antolović, PhD, and the Head of the International Relations Office, Anamarija Čulo Bačarka, mag. iur., visited the Catholic University of Valencia (Universidad Católica de Valencia) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante. The visit provided an opportunity to establish international academic ties, exchange experiences, and lay the foundation for future institutional collaboration.

During their stay at the Catholic University of Valencia, meetings and discussions were held with Beatriz Manrique Huarte, Head of International Relations; Begoña Barber Cortés, Officer for Staff Mobility; and Dr. Irene Marco Moreno, International Relations Coordinator for Medicine and Nursing. They explored opportunities for fostering cooperation between the two institutions, particularly regarding student and staff mobility, joint initiatives, and future projects. A strong foundation for partnership lies in the shared core values of both universities and their dedication to promoting academic excellence grounded in Christian identity. An additional link is their common membership in international networks of Catholic higher education institutions: the European Federation of Catholic Universities (FUCE) and the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU).

As part of the mobility program, the delegation also visited the campus of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante. On this occasion, our University's membership in this prestigious international network was confirmed, opening new avenues for networking and cooperation in intellectual property and related academic fields.

A particularly valuable segment of the visit was the meeting with Prof. Vladia Borissova, Director of the EUIPO Academy, and her colleagues: Blanca Arteche, Head of the Knowledge for IP Professionals Service; Edi Panarisi, Team Leader of the IP for Professionals & PES Programme Team; Flavius Stan and Verónica Garrido, members of the PES Programme Team; and Kari Kivinen, member of the IP in Education for Innovation Team.

The meeting addressed potential forms of collaboration, concrete operational steps, and the inclusion of the University in future initiatives and activities organized by the EUIPO Academy.