IPIRA Conference 4th Edition: Cutting Edge IP Research with a Focus on COVID-19
February 14, 2022
The Fourth Edition of the annual Intellectual Property and Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Conference was held virtually from February 9 to 12, 2022 for over 200 intellectual property (IP) professors, researchers and academics. In 2022, the IPIRA focused on research at the intersection of IP, innovation, sustainable development, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector at WIPO, and Ms. Annabel Gonzalez, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization, gave their welcoming remarks at the opening session of the IPIRA on February 9, 2022. In his speech, Mr. Kleib highlighted the growing importance of IP research, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of innovation and creativity in post COVID economic recovery. He provided participants with an overview WIPO’s COVID-19 response, which aims to address the priority needs of its member states through targeted and customized support.
The imminent and pressing global challenge is to build back better and WIPO is committed to supporting member states in their pandemic response and has a responsibility to ensure that the global IP ecosystem works for the good of everyone.
Mr. Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General, WIPO
Additionally, Mr. Marco Aleman, Assistant Director General of the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector at WIPO presented during the plenary session on IP, new technology and innovation. Mr. Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Director General of the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector at WIPO, presented during the plenary session on IP and sustainability at the IPIRA.
What was covered at the IPIRA in 2022?
The IPIRA featured a range of presentations on research being done on themes of access to vaccines, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. Research papers presented included:
- Analyzing the Paradox of Advertising Pharmaceutical Trademarks: A Tool for Persuasion or Information?
- Legal Issues of Using AI Technology to Modify Humans.
- Side Effects of Trade Secrecy in COVID-19 Vaccines.
- Evolutionary Aspects of Traditional Medicinal Knowledge from the Multilateral Perspective.
- Legal Implications of Gene Patenting: Are We Creating a Frankenstein?
Participants and panelists at the fourth edition of the IPIRA in February, 2022
What is the IPIRA?
The IPIRA is co-organized by the WIPO Academy, World Trade Organization, the International Islamic University Malaysia, Universitas Indonesia, Nanyang Technological University, Texas A&M University School of Law, and the University of Geneva.
The IPIRA is a network of academics, researchers and those working in IP and innovation related national, regional and international organizations. IPIRA provides participants the opportunity to exchange and share information on current developments in the field. The IPIRA offers a platform for researchers from developing countries, least-developed countries and countries in transition to present their work-in-progress and get in-depth feedback analysis on their research. It also gives educators the opportunity to enhance the quality of their scholarship and IP teaching based on best practices.
WIPO Academy supports the IPIRA as part of its efforts to strengthen the links between academic research in IP, innovation and evidence-based policy making, in addition to the needs of industry, in particular entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).