We offer technical assistance development support both to governments and users of the intellectual property (IP) system. All of our activities in this area are needs-driven and tailor-made. They are financed using both our regular budget, as well as funds-in-trust contributions.
We coordinate and plan our technical assistance to governments and users of the IP system (including universities and SMEs) through our focal points across the Organization.
WIPO technical assistance for member states covers the full spectrum of IP rights: patents, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications and copyright. Our activities are divided into three main areas:
We help countries design, develop and implement national IP and innovation strategies, aligned with their development strategies.
We provide tailored advice to individual member states who request our assistance in developing their national IP legislative and policy frameworks.
We provide business solutions for IP offices from all regions to enable them to participate effectively in the global IP system.
The projects highlighted below represent a small selection of our work. For a more comprehensive list, consult our page dedicated to Development Agenda projects.
Under this project, the WIPO Academy provides assistance to member states to establish IP training institutions. The aim is to enable member states to create their own self-sustaining IP training infrastructure.
Working in harmony with existing TISC services, this project aims not only to identify inventions in the public domain, but also to support inventors, researchers and entrepreneurs in using information in the public domain to generate new research outputs and products.
This project works on enabling the collection and exchange of valuable knowledge and experience on IP development among developing countries and LDCs.
This project highlights the links between tourism, IP and sustainable development. In particular it demonstrates how IP tools and strategies can support the promotion of sustainable tourism, as well as economic, social and cultural development.
The Intellectual Property Technical Assistance database (IP-TAD) contains information on technical assistance activities undertaken by WIPO.
The Roster of Consultants (ROC) database contains professional information on consultants engaged by WIPO to undertake specific IP-related technical assistance activities.
We work on a wide range of studies investigating how IP interacts with economic development. These studies narrow the knowledge gap decision-makers face when adopting IP policies to support development objectives.
From support with patent applications to help with obtaining collective marks, individual users of the IP system can also benefit from WIPO technical assistance. Below are three related programs we run:
Innovators in developing countries often lack the resources or support network they need to use IP. Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) help remedy this by providing access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services.
Legal support and advice is sometimes out of reach for developing country inventors. The Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) matches resource-limited inventors/small businesses with patent attorneys. The attorneys provide pro bono legal assistance with patent protection.
We provide assistance to users of IP to draft and file patent applications, which requires practical, legal and technical skills.
Universities and public research institutions (PRIs) are the factories of the knowledge economy. We offer support with creating IP policies for PRIs, including a database of policies, and provide information and advice on knowledge transfer.
The projects highlighted below represent a small selection of our work. For a more comprehensive list, consult our page dedicated to Development Agenda projects.
Mobile applications have become an indispensable part of daily life in the digital world. This project seeks to improve the understanding of the potential of IP for income generation in mobile applications and to empower mobile application developers with tools for using IP in their work.
This project supported local businesses in developing countries and LDCs by helping businesses better use IP in product branding. The project benefitted communities producing traditional products in:
This project focuses on the practical experiences of tourism stakeholders and makes a series of recommendations to promote tourism-related economic activity, including that related to the promotion of national or local knowledge, traditions and culture.
A report published jointly by WIPO and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows how the IP system creates a favorable ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in the sector.
The project was designed to improve the capacity of people, communities and organizations in LDCs to adapt and reapply existing technical and scientific information to address their most urgent development challenges.
The project was implemented in six pilot countries: