The Conference featured empirical and analytical research from academics with a focus on IP law and policy issues in Asia, and in particular, challenges for policy makers in developing countries throughout the region. Opening remarks and plenary discussions emphasized the role of social and intellectual capital to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the impact of IP law and policy on the innovation and dissemination of technology, and how IP and innovation scholarship influences public policy making.

Participants discussed their research on emerging issues in areas such as artificial intelligence, technology transfer, biotechnology, geographical indications and development, copyright in the digital environment, data protection, public health and trade secret protection. See the full programme.

The IPIRA Conferences are modelled on the IP & Innovation Researchers (IPRE) Conference, which coincided with the Geneva-based WIPO-WTO Colloquium for IP Teachers in 2018 and 2019.

The WIPO-WTO Colloquia for IP Teachers are among the two organizations' flagship technical assistance programmes. As part of a practical capacity building exercise, WIPO and the WTO  regularly publish a selection of contributions from colloquia participants in the IP Colloquium Research Paper Series.

The WIPO-WTO Colloquia for IP Teachers and the IPIRA and IPRE networks form part of the WTO's long-running collaboration with the academic community, with the purpose of facilitating academia's contribution to the IP and trade policy making process.