Boosting Women Scientists and Innovators Through Training and Pro-Bono Support in the Republic of Korea

The fifth edition of the Leadership Course on Intellectual Property, Science and Innovation for Women Scientists and Innovators was held from September 2 to 6, 2024 in Seoul, Republic of Korea for the benefit of 23 award-winning women scientists from 14 countries.

The course was jointly organized by:

• WIPO Academy;
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO);
• The International Intellectual Property Training Institute (IIPTI) of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO);
• The Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology; and
• The Korea Women Patent Attorney Association (KWPAA).

Throughout the course, women scientists learned how to commercialize their research and innovations and harnessed the opportunity to network, fostering a growing global community of women scientists in intellectual property (IP). The 2024 edition of the program included a significant contribution of the KWPAA which included the support of 22 of its women attorneys who provided over 20 hours of one-on-one pro-bono advisory sessions to the women scientists on the course.

What did the course cover?

The intensive custom-made course was delivered by leading IP experts, including other women scientists who have commercialized their work such as Dr. Helen Lee, medical researcher and award-winning inventor.

The Leadership Course, which consisted of an online phase prior to the in-person phase in Seoul, covered a range of practical topics which were delivered by international experts, ranging from leading professors to patent holders, such as Mr. Louis Foreman, Ms. Malathi Lakshmikumaran and Mr. Leonid Chechurin.

Some of the topics addressed throughout the course included:

• IP for scientists;
• A masterclass on IP;
• The innovation cycle and ecosystem;
• Taking an invention from lab to market;
• Generating value from IP; and
• Emerging topics in IP.

Other interactive elements of the in-person phase included a patent drafting workshop for the scientists, which also consisted of one-on-one mentoring sessions with women patent attorneys from the KWPAA. Participants also practiced pitching their innovations for commercialization to a panel of IP experts and scientific entrepreneurs.

The scientists were also invited to a roundtable discussion on IP and entrepreneurship at Korea University, where the three participating L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureates were panelists. On the last day, participants visited CJ Blossom Park, the Republic of Korea’s largest food and bio-convergence research complex to learn about the role of IP in science and research at the industry-level.

What are the women scientists saying?

“I particularly like the one-on-one session with the patent attorney. Although I did not have any concrete results/products that I wanted patent yet, I had some ideas that I would like to pursue and protect in the future. The lawyer provided many suggestions that will certainly be useful in my future career. I will pass the knowledge gained from this course to my younger peers as much as I can, at least to just raise the awareness of IP among the scientific community at my institution.” - Pantana Tor-ngern, Thailand

“The comprehensive sessions on patent strategy, pitching, entrepreneurship, and trademarks, coupled with industry visits and case studies, represented a key moment for me. These experiences provided invaluable insights into real-world applications and challenges, significantly enhancing my understanding of IP management and its role in driving innovation and growth in business. My approach to intellectual property in my work has been profoundly impacted by this experience.” - Hanae El Monfalouti, Morocco

What is the KWPAA?

The Korea Women Patent Attorney Association (KWPAA) is a leading organization dedicated to empowering women in the field of IP and fostering women-led innovation by supporting women in science, technology, and law. The dedication and expertise of the 22 pro-bono attorneys left a lasting impact on the participants of the course, helping them understand the value of IP in advancing their careers and innovations.

The initiative was spearheaded by Ms. Se Yoon Kim, the President of KWPAA, who delivered opening remarks emphasizing the importance of women supporting women in professional domains. She was joined by KWPAA board member, Ms. Yeon Soo Park, whose leadership and coordination ensured the success of this pioneering collaboration.

WIPO Academy’s efforts for women in science

The WIPO Academy has been working closely with UNESCO since 2018 to organize annual trainings on IP for award-winning women scientists, under the Academy’s framework of promoting IP education to women and its commitment to gender equality. The WIPO Academy has consistently ensured an overall gender balance among its participants.

Find out more

• What is intellectual property (IP)?
• UNESCO
• Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
•  The International Intellectual Property Training Institute of KIPO
• The Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology
• The Korea Women Patent Attorney Association
• Korea University
• CJ Blossom Park
• Leadership Course on IP, Science and Innovation for Women Scientists and Innovators
• Sign up for the WIPO Academy Highlights newsletter
• Join the WIPO Academy Community on LinkedIn