WIPO Releases a Report “Implementing the SDGs in national intellectual property systems”
April 27, 2023
In 2023, WIPO completed a research on good practices undertaken by IP offices in supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with support from the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global) and published the report, “Implementing the SDGs in national intellectual property systems”, describing the research results.
This research study, commissioned by the WIPO Japan Office, sponsored by FIT/Japan IP Global, in collaboration with WIPO’s Special Representative on the UN SDGs, aimed to identify the relationship between IP policies/engagements and SDGs in various countries and measures being taken by national and regional IP Offices (IPOs) to promote the creation, protection and exploitation of IP that contributes to the achievement of SDGs. The research was conducted based on both primary (direct responses from IPOs) and secondary (published materials) sources.
The report shows there is evidence that IPOs worldwide have embraced SDGs in their administration of IP systems to a greater or lesser extent. For example, the most widely applied measure to encourage the development of sustainable technologies is the provision of accelerated processing for patent applications for those technologies while e-filing has become almost ubiquitous among IPOs surveyed in this study, contributing to the reduction in the amount of paper produced and handled, supporting SDG 12. In addition, the majority of the offices have taken advantage of digitization by introducing AI and related technologies into their operations, to streamline case handling, assist classification and strengthen analytical capabilities. Progress also appears to be evident among some IPOs on SDGs 4 and 5 relating to education, diversity and inclusion.
Consult the report to learn more about good practices undertaken by various IP offices in contributing to the achievement of SDGs.