Empowering Women Researchers in Egypt Through IP
June 18, 2024
The National Intellectual Property Academy of Egypt (NIPA) and the WIPO Academy concluded a joint cooperation project in April 2024 to upskill and educate women researches across the country on how to integrate an intellectual property (IP) strategy into their work.
The project included an online training phase, followed by an in-person mentoring phase, both of which were spearheaded by the WIPO-certified trainers of NIPA, a WIPO intellectual property training institution (IPTI).
What was the project about?
Over 500 Egyptian women researchers applied for the program to learn how to leverage the IP elements of their works-in-progress, and ultimately 75 candidates from different industries were selected for this highly competitive opportunity. Through the project, the participants were empowered to make more informed decisions about their IP.
The training component covered the basics of IP, in addition to IP policies in Egyptian academic institutions, and effective IP management techniques for commercialization and monetization. Each lesson featured real-life case studies from Egypt, making it easier for the participants to grasp the practical aspects of the topics covered.
The mentorship phase was dedicated to one-on-one sessions with NIPA trainers and a business expert on how to structure business models and IP strategies for ongoing research initiatives. After participating in the project, some of the now IP-aware researchers began to file for IP protection and commercialize their IP assets following the step-by-step guidance offered in the mentorship phase.
More about WIPO’s joint projects with IPTIs
The project is one of the 30+ joint cooperation projects the WIPO Academy implements with established IPTIs to meet local training needs and empower beneficiaries on the ground. In this particular case, the project was developed to forge an inclusive and gender diverse innovation ecosystem in Egypt.
What our beneficiaries are saying?
The program helped me become more familiar with the requirements for obtaining patents and other means of protecting my business. I had previously attended many webinars and workshops hosted by NIPA on various IP topics and general IP matters, but I gained new knowledge learning about different cases shared by other participants. I now understand how to utilize different types of IP protections, such as patents and trademarks, to safeguard my business. The training was very valuable, as it provided me with a wealth of technical details and ideas to apply to my universal mosquito repellant product for humans and pets. I plan to apply for a patent and trademark, and I will follow the advice I received during the mentorship about contacting partners and investors.
Dr. Heba Talat Mahmoud Ebeed
I was thrilled to have participated in the program. It was an honor to receive customized mentoring from IP trainers, seasoned experts, and accomplished business leaders. My colleagues and I have immensely benefited from our mentors' expertise in pinpointing IP assets, harnessing IP rights, crafting a business strategy, and promoting our innovations. I am deeply thankful to the program, which has been pivotal in our journey to uncover and capitalize on our IP. I will now apply the knowledge gained to seek possible investors to commercialize my recently patented innovation and I intend to apply for trademark registration as well.
Dr. Mona Al-Shemy