A Global Network of IP Academies Launched in Brazil to Boost IP Education

Geneva, March 28, 2007
UPD/2007/290

A global network of academies dedicated to the teaching of intellectual property (IP) was launched at a meeting convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Institute of Industrial Property Office (INPI) of Brazil earlier this month in Rio de Janeiro. The global network which includes some ten educational institutes dedicated to teaching, training and research into IP at the national level is designed to enhance international cooperation and strengthen the delivery of IP education. This significant development will boost access to IP learning and strengthen the IP human resource base in all regions. It further reflects the growing recognition by policy-makers around the world of the pivotal importance of establishing IP systems and acquiring IP expertise to promote national development strategies.

The International Symposium on Intellectual Property Academies convened in Rio de Janeiro from March 21 to 23, 2007 discussed and shared experiences and strategies for promoting IP education and brought together representatives of various IP academies, training centers and research institutions including the Intellectual Property Institute of Australia (IPRIA), National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) of Brazil, State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of China, State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of Croatia, Cuban Industrial Property Office (OCPI), Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) of the Republic of Korea, as well as the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the European Patent Academy and the WIPO Worldwide Academy.

Participants recognized the important role played by IP academies as the primary promoters of IP education, training and research to diverse groups. The interdisciplinary nature of IP was emphasized as was the need to promote IP education beyond law schools and the legal community – in engineering, sciences, research and development institutions, management, and finance sectors, for example.

Participants agreed that the establishment of the global network will enhance international cooperation in the field of IP education and will facilitate the development of effective strategies to address the common challenges and tasks confronting national IP academies. In a joint declaration, the meeting called on others to join in the global effort to promote IP education. The group also expressed a commitment to undertake a benchmarking exercise of its activities to demonstrate the relevance of its work for national and regional development.

The WIPO Academy was requested to establish an electronic forum to provide information about educational training and research activities and to promote the free-flow of IP educational materials. The group also agreed to carry out a study on the compatibility of e-learning management platforms, to provide translation services on IP educational materials and create an electronic publication on methods and policies on IP education and research. The group also undertook to explore the possibility of creating an International Journal on Intellectual Property and Innovation.

The global network of IP academies decided to set up a small secretariat led by the WIPO Academy together with Brazil where the initial meeting took place and China where the next meeting will be held in 2008.