July 2, 2024
The 14th edition of the flagship WIPO – University of Geneva (UNIGE) Summer School was held in Geneva, Switzerland from June 17 to 28, 2024 for 75 participants who have come from 40 countries across the world to attend the program and learn about intellectual property (IP) and innovation.
The two-week summer school which was held in-person at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and the University of Geneva campus, was an opportunity for young professionals, undergraduate and post-graduate students to build greater knowledge on IP issues, gain an appreciation of IP as a tool for development and learn about the role and functions of WIPO.
The program included lectures from experts from academia, the public and private sectors on IP subjects such as:
Participants also completed group projects covering very diverse IP topics ranging from IP and sustainable development in the fashion and luxury industries, to IP and public health, IP and artificial intelligence, university technology transfer, trade secret management, and gaming and IP.
The summer school program featured an alumni networking event that was organized jointly for the participants of the WIPO-UNIGE Summer School on IP and the Digital Law Summer School (organized by the Digital Law Center of UNIGE). The event spotlighted a panel of young professionals from previous editions of the summer schools who have gone on to forge careers in different industries ranging from government at the national and international levels, to the private sector, and academia.
The alumni on the panel shared their experiences, and how the summer school programs helped them build the careers they currently have, in addition to guiding the current cohort on career opportunities available in their respective industries. Participants could attend the special alumni career forum in hybrid format so previous cohorts of the WIPO – University of Geneva (UNIGE) Summer School could benefit as well.
The WIPO-UNIGE Summer School I attended in 2023 was an amazing experience. Coming from a biomedical sciences background, I had the privilege to dive into the world of IP. The program expanded my knowledge and provided invaluable networking opportunities, positively impacting my career.
Sofia Spataro, Biomedical Researcher at the University of Geneva, and summer school alumna (2023 edition)
The WIPO-UNIGE Summer School on Intellectual Property is a springboard for your career. Not only is the program vast and varied, but you also get to meet IP professionals (and IP enthusiasts) from all around the world. This is why the alumni event is so important as well!
Mathieu Marchal, current student in advocacy at the University of Geneva, former academic intern at the Swiss Intellectual Property Office, and summer school alumnus (2022 edition)