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, Jamaica
Jun 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 Framework of Cooperation/Assistance
WIPO’s Strategic Goals I-VII
Goal III: Facilitating the Use of
IP for Development
IV Critical Pillars from MTSP
2010-2015
Human Resource Capacity
Building
Institutional and Technical
Infrastructure
Legislative and Regulatory
Framework
National IP Strategies and
Policies
Implementation Strategies
(Country plans with coherent set of objectives)
Increased education and awareness of relevance and economic
importance of various forms of IP
Increased capacity of IP Administration Management
Increased 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 concept
Harmonized and integrated regional IP System
Sustained 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
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
Beneficiaries
Government Officials
Private Sector Organizations / Associations
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
Country X sought to develop a Geographical Indication
(G.I)
in their agricultural sector and a collective mark
for their cocoa growers
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
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 project
IP securitization
Seminars:
IP and Sport Seminar (held in April 2011, Jamaica.)
Basic Training needs and outreach
IPAS Training for Offices
MOU UWI & UTT (University of Trinidad and Tobago)
Thank you!
… Questions?