Technical Assistance and Capacity Building in the Field of IP/SMEs by the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), WIPO: Assessing Needs, Meeting Expectations and Measuring Success

Kingston, JamaicaJun 4 - 6, 2012

Paul Regis

Head, Caribbean Unit, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean

About the Caribbean Unit

The Unit was established in June 2010 with the specific aim of focusing more on the special and different needs of Caribbean countries.

The unit is within the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean which is a Bureau in the Development Sector.

The Caribbean countries covered are the 14 CARICOM Member States (12 English speaking plus Haiti and Suriname).

IP Areas Covered

Industrial Property

Patents

Trademark

Industrial Designs

Geographical Indication

Traditional Knowledge & Cultural Expressions

Genetic Resources

• Assist in the facilitation of Copyright requests

• Industrial Property activities overlap with Copyright (e.g. IP and Sports Seminar, Jamaica 2011)

• Works in-house with other divisions with expertise in set areas

WIPO’s Strategic Goals I-VII

Goal III: Facilitating the Use of IP for Development

IV Critical Pillars from MTSP 2010-2015

National IP Strategies and Policies

Legislative and Regulatory Framework

Institutional and Technical Infrastructure

Human Resource Capacity Building

WIPO Framework of Cooperation/Assistance

Implementation Strategies(Country plans with coherent set of objectives)

Increased education and awareness of relevance and economic importance of various forms of IPIncreased capacity of IP Administration ManagementIncreased capacity to effectively manage IP and technology assets Enriched/formalized IP culture in area of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, GI’s and TK

Innovation as a policy conceptHarmonized and integrated regional IP SystemSustained capacity to effectively manage IP assets

Objectives

Overall objective is to empower developing countries and LDC’s to use IP for development and economic growth as well as optimize its potential as a major contributor to national development

Design, development and implementation of national IP strategies and policies consistent with national development goals;

Secure and balanced regulatory framework at national and regional level;

Responsive and sustainable institutional and technical infrastructure; and

Creating a critical mass of skilled human resources capable of effectively managing IP assets .

How does the Unit function?

Demand driven

Has a coordination role -Unit coordinates with other divisions if needed

Provides training, capacity building and outreach programs to Member States

What’s in it for Different Stakeholders?

Lawyers – more clients, PCT fees, Madrid litigation fees,

The Universities- partnerships in tech transfer, IP programs, capacity building in area of GIs and plant variety protection, facilitating public private partnerships

Research institutions– Enhanced R & D, innovation promotion

Entrepreneurs – facilitate trademark/patent access to foreign markets, enriched IP culture

Science and Technology Institutions- partnerships and assistance in setting up service oriented centers that provide access to the knowledge economy

Coffee and Cocoa Board & agricultural producers – branding/GI training programs

Copyright linked organizations- Coherence in collective management framework, capacity building

Government ministries- Integration of IP in policy considerations, policy coherence in national developments plans

Type of Assistance & Who can Benefit

Capacity Building• Participation in Regional/National Seminars (WIPO and Others)

• E.g. IP & Securitization, IP & Sports

WIPO Academy Training

International and Regional Consultants

Study Visits

Beneficiaries

Government Officials

Private Sector Organizations / Associations

National IP Strategies

Legislative Advise

• In-house commentary on legislation• Hire draftsperson to assist countries with drafting bills

Modernisation Activities

• Digitizing IP tools/systems

Assessment Missions

Challenges

*Obtaining the highest level of commitment from countries’ leadership and policy makers*

IP is cross-cutting issue which impacts on other policy considerations ( innovation promotion, public health, trade, food security, climate change, access to knowledge, market regulation)

How to best achieve coherence and positive complimentarity between IP Policy and policies related to above issues

Finding explicit recognition of contribution of IP to national development in national country development plans

Diversity of socio-economic situations among countries requires careful consideration (in particular in regulatory frameworks and institutional infrastructure)

Designing programs that suit the requirements of the diversity of stakeholders/target groups while accomodating the interdisciplinary nature of IP (law, public policy, economics, business and technology)

How to Access WIPO’s Technical Assistance

A. Countries can submit written requests (1-2 months in advance)

B. WIPO Develops Country Plan through a Strategic Alignment Process:

Assess Needs

o In absence of a National IP Strategy, examines country’s National Development Plans, Sector Plans (ICT, Export Strategy, Agricultural Strategy etc.)

o Identifies IP plans and proposes activities in line with country’s needs & linked to WIPO’s Development Agenda.

Meet Expectations

WIPO proposes a Round-Table Discussion

on G.I via consultation with

Country based on stakeholder’s needs

Round-Table Discussion organized,

Industry stakeholders invited

& trained in GI and Collective Marks

- Consultant hired to assist country

In developing relevant legislation

- Collective mark created for

Cocoa growers to brand their products

For local consumption & the export market

Country X sought to develop a Geographical Indication

(G.I)

in their agricultural sector and a collective mark

for their cocoa growers

_________

Measuring Success of the Technical Assistance [Monitoring and Evaluation]

Caribbean Unit has defined Indicators but process of more SMART indicators are being developed

Follow-up review of the country’s Strategy and needs in IP

Direct change: legislative, courses & degrees on IP, number of courses accessed by citizens, National IP Strategies & Policies

Current Projects(Example of some of plans)

Major Projects:

RPA (Regional Patent Administration)TK projectIP securitization

Seminars:IP and Sport Seminar (held in April 2011, Jamaica.)Basic Training needs and outreachIPAS Training for OfficesMOU UWI & UTT (University of Trinidad and Tobago)

Thank you!

… Questions?