WIPO University Initiative

Today, many universities and research and development (R&D) organizations in developing countries and countries in transition often cannot enjoy the full benefits of their investments in R&D due to a lack of knowledge and experience regarding the proper use of the intellectual property (IP) system.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is addressing this concern and providing access to expertise and know-how that will be of direct benefit to universities and R&D organizations in those countries. WIPO has recently launched a program entitled the "WIPO University Initiative" aimed at assisting interested universities and R&D organizations in establishing IP information services through Intellectual Property (IP) Coordinators.

IP Coordinators are contact persons or units, which provide information and advice on IP matters and will benefit from WIPO's support in developing and enforcing a customized IP policy, in response to the specific needs, means and objectives of interested universities and R&D organizations.

Through the "WIPO University Initiative," participating universities will benefit from an exchange of information, best practices and/or university IP policy statements.

The "WIPO University Initiative" will contribute to enhancing awareness about intellectual property matters among students and university academic, research and administrative staff.

With a better understanding of the benefits and the judicious use of the intellectual property system, participating universities will be able to:

• create an awareness about the IP system;
• design and adopt IP policies;
• develop the capacity to extract and analyze various information contained in IP documents, including technological information contained in patent documents;
• identify, assess and develop their IP assets;
• take appropriate decisions relating to technology transfer and licensing.