Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- April 26 is World Intellectual Property Day.

On this occasion, a symposium aiming at enhancing social cognition of intellectual property and practical ability was held in Pyongyang on April 23.

The work to strengthen the intellectual property protection system and lay foundations and environment for dynamically pushing ahead with the development of science and technology is intensified in the DPRK.

In particular, the work to ensure the unified guidance by the state over intellectual property work and perfect the intellectual property protection system is being stepped up in keeping with the developing reality.

Many units across the country have made remarkable progress by creating intellectual property with a correct understanding of intellectual property and the protection system and making good use of them in their management activities.

The February 16 Science and Technology Prize, the Technical Innovation Prize and the Prize for Best Inventor instituted by the state are awarded to scientists, technicians and inventors who made direct contributions to intellectual creations of great social significance every year.

Meanwhile, the DPRK has held exhibitions including the national industrial art exhibition and the intellectual property development exhibition and conducted information activities with World Intellectual Property Day as an occasion to raise the awareness of law observance and interest in protecting intellectual property in society.

The DPRK joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in August 1974.

Scientists and technicians of the DPRK were warded the WIPO's inventor prizes, medals and certificates as they created inventions of world significance in various fields of national economy including agriculture, light industry and public health in the past. -0-