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Forum Looks at Role of Innovation in BusinessDevelopment

Geneva, October 13, 2000
Press Updates UPD/2000/108

The public and private sectors joined forces at a major conference in Helsinki to discuss the underlying importance of invention and innovation to business development in today's technology-driven, knowledge-based economies. At a meeting co-organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Finland from October 5 to 7, 2000, representatives from various sectors probed the relationship between creativity, intellectual property rights and development and their contribution to wealth creation and technological, social and cultural progress.

The first Forum on Creativity and Inventions - A Better Future for Humanity in the 21st Century was attended by some 170 senior government officials, economic and technology policy planners, academics and businessmen from 40 countries and several international organizations. The comprehensive two-day program consisted of six main topics, namely,

  • invention and innovation as a pre-condition for human advancement and an instrument for the survival of mankind;
  • inventors, innovators and creators - the intellectual capital of nations;
  • creating a supportive environment for the use and development of inventions as a service to society;
  • inventions and innovations - key elements in striving for competitive advantages;
  • conditions for successful economic and social use of inventions and innovations;
  • importance and protection of inventions and innovations in a knowledge-based society; the role of intellectual property and future challenges to creators, industry, legislators and society at large.

The idea of the Forum resulted from discussions in 1998 between President Martti Ahtisaari, and WIPO Director General, Dr. Kamil Idris during the latter's visit to Finland. Commenting on the effectiveness of the Finnish model at that time, Dr. Idris said, "Finland is an excellent illustration of how the concerted efforts of government, local authorities, universities and business cooperate to create an environment where creativity can flourish". Finland has one of the highest ratios of Internet knowledge and service providers per capita in the world. This, together with increased funding in research and development and the active promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, has made a significant contribution to the country's rise as a leading producer of high technology products.

The Forum was organized by WIPO, the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Finland, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Finland and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA), the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT) and the Finnish Inventors' National Federation (KEKE).

The Forum took place in the context of WIPO's efforts to ensure that intellectual property systems evolve into more broadly accessible, user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient means of protecting creative and innovative works for the greater good of humankind. In a time when knowledge and information are increasingly defining the wealth of nations, the intellectual property system plays a key role in capturing the value of these intangibles and converting them into economic assets. Intellectual property rights are conferred on original inventions or creative works that meet certain legal requirements. In exercising these rights inventors and creators are able to secure a source of income, while ensuring that the public has access to state-of-the art technologies and a wealth of culturally-enriching works that are the fruits of their creativity. In this way, the efficient use of the intellectual property system serves as an important spur to economic, social, technological and cultural development.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

  • Tel: (+41 22) - 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
  • Fax: (+41 22) - 338 88 10
  • Email: publicinf@wipo.int.
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