Ville OMPI de l’innovation

Few people have shaped the global conversation on intellectual property and innovation policy as directly as Andrei Iancu. As Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property from 2018 to 2021, he led one of the world's most influential intellectual property institutions, championing policies designed to strengthen innovation, technological progress and economic growth.

Today, Andrei is a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he advises companies at the forefront of science and technology on complex intellectual property matters. Over several decades, he has represented innovators across a broad range of industries – including medical devices, biotechnology, telecommunications, digital technologies, broadcasting and video games – before U.S. courts, the International Trade Commission and the USPTO. His work also encompasses global strategies for obtaining, licensing and enforcing intellectual property rights.

With a career spanning engineering, law and public leadership, Andrei brings a unique understanding of how innovation ecosystems are built and sustained. His experience working with governments, businesses and inventors provides valuable insight into the policies and legal frameworks that enable creativity, entrepreneurship and technological advancement to flourish.

Originally trained as an aerospace and mechanical engineer, Andrei earned bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering before completing a Juris Doctor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), combining technical expertise with one of the world's leading legal careers in intellectual property.