Director of the French IP Office visits Iceland

09. June 2026International Cooperation

Pascal Faure, Director General of the French Intellectual Property Office (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle, INPI), visited the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office today, accompanied by Jérémie Fenichel, Executive Director for Intellectual Property Rights and International Affairs.

The purpose of the visit was to strengthen ties between the two offices and exchange best practices. Digital development was a particular focus of discussion, as both offices have been at the forefront of digital service delivery in recent years and now offer nearly all their services online. The meeting also addressed IP-backed financing, exploring ways to expand opportunities for businesses to access such financing and for banks to provide loans secured against intellectual property rights.

Jérémie Fenichel, Executive Director for Intellectual Property Rights and International Affairs at the INPI; Sandra Theódóra Árnadóttir, Head of Legal Affairs; Pascal Faure, Director General of the INPI; Eiríkur Sigurðsson, Head of Communications; Borghildur Erlingsdóttir, Director General of the ISIPO; Pétur Vilhjálmsson, Digital Leader; and Elfa Íshólm Ólafsdóttir, Head of Finance and Operations/Deputy Director General

Borghildur Erlingsdóttir, Director General of the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office, presented figures on registrations held by French parties in Iceland:

Of approximately 68,000 trademarks registered in Iceland, French parties hold just over 3,800 ( 6%), placing France sixth among countries with the most trademarks registered in Iceland. The largest holders of French trademarks registered in Iceland are L'Oréal, Sanofi and Renault.

Of just over 9,100 patents currently in force in Iceland, French parties hold 386 ( 4%), placing France seventh among countries with the most patents registered. The largest holders of French patents in Iceland are Les Laboratoires Servier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Bioprojet.

Of approximately 1,600 design registrations in Iceland, French parties hold 68 (4%), placing France eighth among countries with the most designs registered. The largest holders of French design registrations are Peugeot Citroën Automobiles, Rautureau Apple Shoes and Sunacorp.

Following the meeting at Katrínartún, the guests visited Carbfix at the Hellisheiði geothermal site, a company that received the WIPO Global Awards in 2025. They also visited and received a presentation at Friðheimar in Grímsnes.