INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: EVENTS

Geneva-based symposiums, workshops and training in intellectual property

The WTO, often collaborating with other international organizations, regularly holds events on intellectual property, trade and other related subjects. Some are part of the advanced training that the WTO offers to officials, policymakers and academics via selection. Others are available to a wider audience, where experts share their latest thinking on topics such as public health.

The types of events:

 

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WIPO-WTO advanced course on intellectual property for government officials

For officials from developing countries and economies in transition, aiming to strengthen the capacity of participating countries to monitor and participate in international developments, and to make informed assessments of intellectual property policy issues.

 

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WIPO-WTO colloquiums for teachers of intellectual property

For teachers of intellectual property from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The aim is to help the teachers become more aware of the Geneva institutions, negotiations and other activities dealing with intellectual property law and policy, and to strengthen their countries’ independent research, policy analysis and teaching in international intellectual property law with its diverse policy contexts.

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WHO-WIPO-WTO joint technical symposiums

Open to the public, through obligatory registration, including delegations in Geneva to the WHO, WIPO and WTO, representatives of international and philanthropic organizations, experts on intellectual property, trade, health and related topics, civil society organizations, academics and all interested individuals and organizations. The objective is to provide a platform for experts to discuss topical technical issues at the crossroads of health, trade and IP.

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WTO workshops on trade and public health

For government officials from developing country members and observers in the WTO, these workshops are part of well-established cooperation between the WHO, WIPO and the WTO, designed to build capacity on issues at the crossroad between trade, intellectual property rights and public health.

  • 2022 workshop on trade and public health focuses on pandemic preparedness and response, 28 November 2022 – 2 December 2022
    > News story
  • 2021 virtual course on trade and public health with special focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, 3 May 2021 – 5 June 2021
    > News story
  • 2019 workshop on trade and public health: 15 years of promoting a holistic approach, 11-15 November 2019
    > News story
  • 2018 workshop promotes comprehensive approach to trade, IP and health disciplines, 8 to 12 October 2018
    > News story
  • 2017 workshop facilitates understanding the complementarity of trade and health disciplines, 6-10 November 2017
    > News story
  • 2016 workshop takes a holistic view at trade and public health, 17-21 October 2016
    > News story
  • 2015 workshop maps the interface among public health, trade and IP law and policy, 26-30 October 2015
    > News story
  • 2014 health workshop broadens agenda from intellectual property to trade, 24–28 November 2014
    > News story
  • 2013 workshop focuses on comprehensive approach for innovation and access in health, 10–13 December 2013
    > News story
  • 2012 workshop helps officials gain a better understanding of intellectual property as it relates to health, 9-12 October 2012
    > News story
  • 2011 workshop helps officials use intellectual property flexibilities for health, 13 October 2011
    > News story
  • 2010, workshop helps officials use intellectual property flexibilities for health, 21–24 September 2010
    > News story
  • 2009, workshop helps officials use health patent flexibilities, 3–5 November 2009
    > News story
  • 2008, workshop helps officials use health patent flexibilities, 2–4 December 2008
    > News story
  • 2007, workshop helps officials use health patent flexibilities, 3–5 December 2007
    > News story
  • 2006 workshop helps officials use health patent flexibilities, 27–29 November 2006
    > News story

WTO workshops on the implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement – incentives to transfer technology to least developed countries

Since 2008, the WTO has organized workshops for LDC and developed country members to review the annual reports on the implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement (incentives to transfer technology to LDCs). The workshops provide the opportunity to exchange views between cooperation partners and to deepen the dialogue on incentives for transfer of technology to respond to the needs identified by least-developed countries.

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Events related to least developed countries’ priority needs

Least developed countries (LDCs) are given an extended transition period to protect intellectual property under the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This is in recognition of their special requirements, their economic, financial and administrative constraints, and the need for flexibility so that they can create a viable technological base. A number of workshops and other events have been organized on this topic. The purpose is to help identify LDCs’ priority needs so they can implement the TRIPS Agreement in a way that responds to their domestic policy objectives, and to coordinate responses to those needs where they have already been identified.

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Others