Successful First Edition of the WIPO-WTO Executive Training Program on IP Issues Concludes
June 17, 2024
The first edition of the WIPO-WTO Executive Training Program on Intellectual Property (IP) Issues successfully concluded on June 14, 2024. Organized from June 3 to 14, 2024, the intense two-week program took place at WIPO and WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Twenty-nine senior IP officials from 28 countries benefitted from the unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of IP’s role in contemporary public policy issues, and share national perspectives and experiences on how IP is being used as a tool to advance sustainable growth and development. More than 50% of the participants were women.
WIPO Deputy Director General Lisa Jorgenson and WTO Deputy Director General Johanna Hill welcomed the participants on the first day of the two-week journey underscoring the importance of capacity-building initiatives jointly supported by both organizations for the benefit of Member States.
What did the first WIPO-WTO Executive Program cover?
Participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum delivered by leading experts featuring the latest developments in:
- Patent law and trade secrets
- Copyright and related rights in contemporary times
- Legal and policy issues in the field of trademarks, designs and geographical indications
- IP rights enforcement and dispute settlement
- IP and economic development
The first-edition of the program also spotlighted WIPO’s new Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, enabling participants to engage in discussions with WIPO and WTO experts about the global and national policy implications of the treaty.
As part of the program, “deep dive” days were included for participants to gain a comprehensive view of current topics such as trade and public health, the role of technology transfer in diffusing climate change technologies to foster sustainable food systems, and IP’s role in empowering women and supporting SMEs through digital trade.
Participants also benefited from practical learning and skills-building as part of the program through an immersive learning experience at Nestlé’s Research and Development Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. During the visit to Nestlé, the participants interacted with agri-research, food safety, regulatory and sustainability experts to understand how IP is key in science and innovation efforts at the industry-level.
What our participants are saying?
The WIPO-WTO Executive Program was a unique opportunity to learn and exchange on the most pressing IP issues of our day with colleagues from 29 different countries. The discussions on TRIPS and public health, technology transfer and climate change, and sustainable food systems have been particularly enriching. I especially appreciated the value of the deep dive on IP and gender, and the conversations on leadership with Ambassador Pimchanok Pitfield from Thailand.
Cristina Vieira Machado Alexandre, Brazil
The program was very useful as it included presenters who use IP rights and trade in different aspects of businesses. The visit to Nestlé brought about real-life experiences on how IP rights are utilized and blended with business strategy. I also enjoyed the deep dives and the opportunities we had to share our own experiences of IP practices and trade in our countries. The program really demonstrated how behind IP and trade there are human lives that are directly affected by the practice and implementation of relevant policies, and how such policies can be shaped to enable the achievement of the sustainable development goals, improving the livelihood of all societies.
Thulani Sibanda, Zimbabwe