CDIP/3 2/2 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2024 Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) Thirty -Second Session Geneva, April 29 to May 3, 2024 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA prepared by the Secretariat 1. The present document contains the Director General’s report on the implementation of the Development Agenda (DA) for the year 2023. This is the fourteenth such report , which provides an overview of the activities undertaken by WIPO for the implementation of the DA and its mainstreaming across relevant programs of the Organization. 2. Following the new structure introduced at the twenty -eighth session of the CDIP, t he report portrays the implementation and mainstreaming of the DA , clustered under main areas of work of each WIPO Sector: Regional and National Development; Patents and Technology; Brands and Designs; Copyright and Creative Industries; Infrastructure and Platforms; Global Challenges and Partnerships; IP and Innovation Ecosystems; and Administration, Finance and Management . Each part of the report provides a general overview of the Sector’s work linked to IP and development, provides an update on the work of the relevant WIPO Bodies, as well as an overview of the ongoing and mainstreamed DA projects under those areas of work . 3. The report also responds to the Com mittee’s request to link the DA Recommendations to Expected Results and present them in Annex I of the D G’s annual report on the implementation of the DA, as reflected in paragraph 8.3 of the Summary by the Chair of the twenty -second session. Annex II presents a list of DA p rojects as of 2023. INTRODUCTION 4. Intellectual Property (IP) is acknowledged as a positive tool for socio- economic development in all regions of the world, as evidenced by the results of the Global IP Perception CDIP/3 2/2 page 2 Survey ( “WIPO Pulse ”).1 The profound connection between IP and development underpins the foundation of the Development Agenda (DA) , which since its adoption, has triggered an ongoing process of mainstreaming the development dimension in the programs and activities of WIPO . The O rganization’s current Medium -Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2022 – 20262 further strengthened the DA by placing an even greater focus on development and creation of real impact through close collaboration with Member States. 5. During the reporting period, the Organization focused on strengthening the ways in which it delivers its program of work to ensure the most effective use of IP as a tool for growth and development. This included a reinforced internal coordination and adoption of a “whole of WIPO” approach that allowed building on the traditional areas of strengths and bringing the work of the Organization to the grassroots, with a particular focus on small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs), women, youth, indigenous peoples , and communities at large. In the context of emerging global challenges, the Organization continued to leverage synergies with key partners and stakeholders to provide targeted and customized support to Member States. I. REGIONAL AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR 6. Serving as a gateway for all of the Organization’s Member States, the Regional and National Development Sector (RNDS) support ed Member States in their endeavor to use IP for growth and development. Through the WIPO Academy, Regional Divisions3 and External Offices ,4 the Sector maximized the development impact of WIPO’s initiatives on the ground. Additionally, the RNDS Projects team piloted new ways of implementing IP -related urgent strategic cooperation projects that enabled work with new communities, constituencies, and partners, as well as closer engagement with stakeholders, such as SMEs, women, and youth. Throughout the year, a particular emphasis was put on communicating impact stories and news from the ground,5 showcasing how WIPO supports entrepreneurs, inventors, and creators around the world to use IP to add value to their products, support business growth, create employment and promote economic development. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING 7. The Sector’s technical assistance and capacity building responded to the DA Recommendations. Being demand -driven and development -oriented, these initiatives included the delivery of training and building of skills on IP, awareness -raising activities, facilitation of policy dialogues, development of national IP strategies, and legislative assistance, among others. They also covered a wide range of IP fields, providing focus on certain new areas of work . Examples of such activities are : (i) Regional Workshop on IP and Traditional Medical Knowledge in Africa;
6 (ii) Pilot Project on IP and Think Tanks in the Arab Region;7 (iii) WIPO -Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) TikTok Competition for the youth on IP and Tourism: My land is my ultimate flex ;8 (iv) Regional Forum on IP for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Entrepreneurship in Latin America ; as 1 The WIPO Pulse report is available at: www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub -rn2023- 36-en-wipo -pulse.pdf 2 The Medium -Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2022 – 2026 is available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=541373 3 Division for Africa , Division for Least -Developed Countries , Division for Arab Countries , Division for Asia and the Pacific , Division for Latin America and the Caribbean, Division for Transition and Developed Countries. 4 WIPO has External Offices in Algeria, Brazil, China, Japan, Nigeria, the Russian Federation and Singapore. 5 The Development Stories – IP for Impact webpage is available at: www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/stories/ 6 Ten countries benefited from the workshop: Eswatini, Ethiopia, t he Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda. 7 The project was implemented in Algeria, Kuwait, and Morocco. It was completed in 2023. 8 Further information about the Competition and its winners is available at : www.wipo.int/youth -
engagement/en/news/2023/news_0008.html CDIP/3 2/2 page 3 well as (v) WIPO – Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) Regional Meeting on Enhancing IP Commercialization Capacity of Techno -Parks in the region of EAPO Member States .9 8. Through WIPO’s COVID -19 Response Package ,10 the Organization provided tailored support measures to assist Member States in addressing the challenges faced as a result of the pandemic , including strengthening response and recovery efforts and building resilience. The Package benefitted over 25% of WIPO M ember States in 2022 and 2023
11 and reached out to new and diverse stakeholders and communities, including those typically underserved by the IP system, such as SMEs, women, youth, local communities, and indigenous peoples. Following the success of the COVID -19 Response Package, WIPO’s new Build Back Fund has been approved by Member States as part of WIPO’s Program of Work and Budget 2024/25. The Build Back Fund will ensure seamless continuity of the projects and activities launched under the COVID -19 Response Package, and will continue to deliver customized, targeted and impact -driven support to address country -specific needs and priorities during the post -pandemic period. 9. To ensure that IP is truly a tool accessible to all, the Sector work ed closely with Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in assisting their preparation for graduation through “WIPO’s Graduation Support Package fo r LDCs” as a contribution to the Doha Programme of Action for 2022- 2031. In 2023, WIPO developed and started implementing country -specific support programs for Angola, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Sao Tomé and Principe. In addition, WIPO received a request for IP -related technical assistance from Bangladesh. The areas of IP -related technical assistance for graduating LDCs include, among others, enhanced support for developing national IP and innovation eco- systems, modernization of national IP Offices, specialized trainings for various stakeholders, assisting technological capacity building, as well as a range of technical assistance activities on using IP for business competitiveness and economic diversification. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE BUILDING 10. The number of people benefitting from the WIPO Academy’s Distance Learning (DL) Program reached 108,292 in 2023, with a total of 580 courses in up to 20 languages. The DL course offerings were expanded to more practical and competency -oriented training for highly specialized stakeholders and users of the IP system. A Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC ) Staff Certification Program was developed to establish a standard framework for foundational training and upskilling of professionals and staff at WIPO TISCs. The new IP Training Program for Diplomats and Trade Officials offers Member States a specialized program to equip their diplomats with the necessary knowledge to navigate the landscape of IP in international diplomacy and trade. This includes a module on the WIPO DA. The new Specialized Course on the Hague System f or the International Registration of Industrial Designs (DL304) aims to increase use of the Hague System by teaching about its benefits, legal framework, features and functions. The Academy responded to the continued demand for adaptation of its entry -level and youth- focused learning tools to national target audiences , building on new and existing agreements for customization with the IP Offices of 12 Member States.
12 It is worth mentioning that the first and second editions of the WIPO -Harvard Patent Law and Global Public Health Course (PatentX Course) w ere delivered free of charge to more than 1 ,000 students around the world. 9 More information about the Conference can be found at : www.wipo.int/technology -
transfer/en/news/2023/news_0003.html 10 Further information on WIPO’s COVID -19 Related Services and Support is available at: www.wipo.int/covid -19/en/ 11 Projects have been implemented across all IP areas, coordinated by the WIPO Academy upon the request of Member State s. 12 Albania, Cabo Verde, Cuba, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago. CDIP/3 2/2 page 4 11. Furthermore, t he WIPO Academy provided support to universities to improve IP higher education for youth, women, entrepreneurs and SMEs , including through the development of curricula, provision of IP academic resources, WIPO experts and international professors. Joint Master’s programs represented another key strand of the Academy’s work aimed particularly at participants from developing countries, LDCs and countries with economies in transition. In 2023 , eleven Joint Master’s programs were offered in university partners to 229 participants. Nineteen WIPO Academy Summer Schools on IP Law were organized in 16 different countries for 1334 participants. Additionally, t he WIPO and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Colloquium, organized in Geneva, offered support to 27 IP teachers and researchers. IP AND DEVELOPMENT 12. On April 24, 2023, WIPO hosted an International Conference on IP and Development, with the theme “ IP and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture”. The event took place, in a hybrid format, during the first day of the thirtieth session of the CDIP. More than 6 00 participants attended the event in-person and virtually . The Conference was organized along an introductory panel, three panels and a concluding dialogue. Fourteen speakers from diverse backgrounds (academics, private sector, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) exchanged views and insights about the importance of innovation for sustainable agriculture and discussed how IP tools can support it. The audience engaged actively by posing questions and raising comments via the online platform throughout the whole event. A factual report on the Conference was considered at the thirty -first session of the CDIP (document CDIP/31/4 ). The Com mittee commended the Secretariat on its efforts to organiz e the Conference and expressed appreciat ion for the substantive and logistical aspects. The Committee decided that the sub- topic for the International Conference on IP and Development, to be organized in 2025 , should be “The role of IP and innovation in addressing global public health challenges: fostering technological transfer and collaborations ”. 13. The CDIP, under the agenda item on “IP and Development ”, continued to discuss topics proposed and agreed upon by Member States .13 This agenda item serves as a platform for in-depth discussion on the selected topic , as well as WIPO’s existing wo rk and future direction in that area. It also provides an opportunity for Member States to share experiences and their expectations of the Organization’s work and technical assistance i n various fields of IP. During its thirtieth session, held from April 24 to 28, 2023 , the Committee discussed the topic “IP and youth: investing in the future”. Following the p resentation by the Secretariat,14 Member States shared their national educational programs, projects and other initiatives that are aimed at empowering youth to use IP to innovate and create. The C ommittee also revisited the topic “Women and IP”15 and considered t wo reports on Women and IP: i) “Internal and External Activities, Strategic Direction ”;16 and ii) “Compilation and Sharing of Data ”.17 Member States encouraged the Secretariat to continue implementing activities in this domain. At its thirty-first session, held from November 27 to December 1, 2023 , the Committee discussed the topic “Addressing Climate Change: IP Helps Achieve the Goals of Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality ”. The Committee listened to the presentation by the Secretari at18 on that topic, following which Member States presented their national experiences, programs, projects , and other initiatives aimed at using IP and innovation to address climate change. In addition, the Committee agreed to discuss under agenda item on “IP and Development” the topic “Building 13 In this regard, to facilitate discussions, a Roster of Topics with proposals from Member States has been established and is being periodically updated. Member States are invited to submit their proposals for IP and development -related topics at any time. 14 The Secretariat’s presentation is available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=607593 15 Following a request by the Committee at its twenty -sixth session. 16 See document CDIP/30/1 2, available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=602624 17 See document CDIP/30/13, available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=602625 18 The Secretariat’s Presentation is available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=625143
