WIPO Marks World Environment Day with its first-ever Open Day on June 5, 2010
Geneva,
May 18, 2010
PR/2010/641
On Saturday, June 5, 2010, which coincides with World Environment Day, WIPO will for the first time open its doors to the public at large. This will provide an opportunity for the Organization to showcase its activities and demonstrate how its work helps contribute to human and social progress.
Visitors will learn about the basic elements of intellectual property – patents, trademarks, designs, geographical indications and copyright - and how the intellectual property system works to promote innovation and creativity. WIPO staff will be present to answer questions about the Organization’s activities.
Activities and exhibits will be organized both inside WIPO’s landmark building on the Place des Nations and in the gardens. The exhibits will include green tech innovations, such as a photovoltaic roof system by DuPont. Visitors will also have access to the top floor of the WIPO building, which affords breathtaking views of the surroundings.
WIPO’s Open Day is part of a bigger international weekend. The UN Environment Programme is organizing a series of events on the Place des Nations on June 5. In addition, the gardens of the Palais des Nations will be open to the public that day. On June 6, the International Peace Bureau is organizing day-long events along the Geneva lakeside.
Among the events at WIPO is an exhibition of Swiss appellations of origin, in collaboration with Switzerland’s Federal Office of Agriculture and the Association suisse des AOC-IGP, which will organize a presentation and tasting of some Swiss products, protected under the AOC denomination. Geneva’s Direction générale de l’agriculture (Département de l'Interieur et de la Mobilité) will also host a stand featuring Geneva wines.
DuPont, a science-based products and services company, will be presenting a new photovoltaic system, specially designed for roof integration, consisting of photovoltaic modules framed in a composite material, DuPont Rynite(R), for harmonious aesthetics and easy installation. Founded in 1802 and operating in more than 80 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
Visitors will also have a unique opportunity to meet Mr. Marc Parent, the inventor of the Eole Water, a clean technology water-making system, which will be on display at WIPO (courtesy of Eole Water). The inventors of the Eole Water system used the international patent system – the WIPO-administered Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – to acquire patent protection for their invention in multiple countries.
Another eco-innovation that used the PCT and that will be on display - with the opportunity for rides - is the Segway® transport system (courtesy of LocoEmotion and SMAG). Invented in 2001 by Dean Kamen, this is the first self-balancing, zero emissions personal transportation vehicle.
In addition to displays, a number of discussion forums as well as a projection of a film relating to the environment, will be held in WIPO’s main conference hall which hosts a multitude of high-level negotiations year-round among WIPO’s 184 member states.
Among the forums is a meeting with the Director General of WIPO, Mr. Francis Gurry, who will respond to questions from the public about WIPO and intellectual property. In addition, WIPO is co-organizing with the University of Geneva, a roundtable discussion where experts will discuss innovation and green and sustainable technologies.
A number of animations, concerts and activities will also be organized in the WIPO gardens.
While the WIPO gardens will be accessible to the public all day, the main WIPO building is open to the public from 10.00 to 18.00. Visitors are requested to show photo identification upon entrance of the building. Bags will be security controlled.
For more information, please contact the News and Media Division at WIPO:
- Tel: (+41 22) 338 81 61 / 338 72 24