wto TRIPS technical assistance activities in
2024
Note by
the Secretariat[1]
1. The Secretariat of the WTO plans to organize a number of specific
technical assistance activities on the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS Agreement) in 2024. This document
provides detailed information about TRIPS-specific WTO technical assistance
activities planned for 2024, including information on dates, and where
applicable, eligibility and selection criteria of participants and instructions
for submission of applications. The overall objective of the TRIPS technical
assistance activities is to enhance the knowledge and expertise of government
officials from WTO developing and least-developed Members and Observers, so
they can better understand and implement the TRIPS Agreement, benefit from its
provisions, and strengthen their capacity to engage in the work of the Council
for TRIPS .[2]
2. This document is structured according to the different types of TRIPS-specific
technical assistance activities provided by the WTO:
·_
e-Learning Courses
on the TRIPS Agreement;
·_
National TRIPS Workshops;
·_
Regional TRIPS Workshops;
·_
Geneva-based TRIPS
thematic Workshops;
·_
Joint activities
with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); and
·_
Activities under
the auspices of the WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Cooperation on Trade and Public
Health.
3. The structure, content, target audience, pre-requisites and
materials of the above-mentioned TRIPS-specific‑activities will follow the WTO
Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS).[3] Therefore,
each activity is identified according to a scale ranging from "Level
1" (the least advanced, introductory activities) to "Level 3"
(the most advanced, in-depth training activities). This classification will,
inter alia, assist in making
candidates aware of the expected level of the activity before they apply, and
facilitate the Secretariat's assessment of whether a candidate's profile and
experience match the level of the activity when carrying out the selection
process. Further information on the WTO PLS and a table with the level of each
of the TRIPS-specific technical assistance‑activities can be found in Annex
I.
4. Members are encouraged to review document _JOB/TC/18, which provides
information on the WTO's Global Training Activities, including e-Learning, as
well as Regional Trade Policy Courses (which include a module on the TRIPS
Agreement), organized by the WTO Secretariat and scheduled to be conducted in
2024. For additional queries and information on TRIPS-related Technical
Assistance activities, including requests for a TRIPS national or regional
workshop, please contact Ms. Roshan Khan (Technical Assistance and Legal
Officer, Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition
Division, WTO) at roshan.khan@wto.org or +41227396153.
1 E-LEARNING
COURSES ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT
Level of this activity: 1 3
5. The WTO offers several e-Learning Courses on the TRIPS Agreement
("TRIPS e-Learning Courses") including:
a._
Micro Course series[4]: Why are Intellectual Property Rights (IPRS) protected? and Why are
copyright and related rights protected;
b._
Core TRIPS Courses: A
short trip through TRIPS and Trade-related aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights;
c._
Copyright in the
WTO; and
d._
Patents in the
WTO.
6. e-Learning Courses are freely accessible at all times via the WTO
e-Learning Platform (https://www.learning.wto.org). All courses include a
final exam and a WTO certificate upon its successful completion.
7. Successful completion of the TRIPS e-Learning Courses (in any of the
WTO working languages) is normally a pre-requisite or recommendation for
participation in TRIPS face-to-face technical assistance activities. However,
successful completion of the TRIPS e-Learning Courses does not guarantee selection
for TRIPS-related face-to-face training events. Government officials who have
already successfully completed the core TRIPS e-Learning Courses, or
the courses on copyright and patents, in any of the available languages, are
not required to undertake it again.
8. Government officials from eligible[5] developing WTO Members and
Observers wishing to enrol in the TRIPS e‑Learning Courses must:
a._
Create an account on the WTO e-Learning Programme: the online registration is available at https://www.learning.wto.org; and
b._
Submit the Nomination Form: participants wishing to have full access to the e-Learning
programme (i.e., access to course exams, certification, live webinars, and
other e-Learning activities) must be nominated by their government authorities.
The nomination form is available for download on the e-Learning platform (https://www.learning.wto.org) in the participant's
Dashboard upon log in. The completed nomination form, duly signed and
stamped by the candidate's government authorities, must be submitted (i.e., uploaded
on the WTO e-Learning platform) to complete the candidate's registration
process.
9. For further information and help about the registration process for
the TRIPS e-Learning Courses, the WTO e-Learning team can be contacted at elearning@wto.org. Please also consult the WTO e‑Learning Quick
Guide, available in English, French and Spanish.
Level of this activity: 1 3
10. WTO developing and least-developed Members and
Observers are entitled to request national workshops with a view to address
specific training needs on the TRIPS Agreement and its implementation. National
TRIPS workshops may have a lower (more introductory) or higher (in-depth,
advance training) level, depending on the training needs identified by the
requesting Member, and the level of knowledge and experience of the
participants. It is also possible to organize two national activities
back-to-back for different participants, for example, one at an introductory
level and another at an advanced level. The Secretariat will aim to tailor
the structure and content of these workshops according to each specific request
and through consultations with the beneficiary Member during the preparation
phase of the workshop. In addition, the Secretariat encourages Members to
clearly outline the objectives of national seminars in the online national
activity request, in order to allow the Secretariat to respond more effectively
to the training needs of Members.
11. To request a national workshop on the TRIPS Agreement, developing
and least-developed Members and Observers must complete and submit a technical assistance
national activity request through the Technical Assistance Management System
(TAMS), which is available through the weblink https://tams.wto.org.[6]
12. The Technical Assistance National Activity Request must be submitted
along with an official accompanying letter from the contact point to the WTO
(e.g. mission in Geneva), addressed to the Director of the Institute for
Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC). The request and the official letter
should be submitted online via the weblink https://tams.wto.org.The Secretariat encourages Members
and Observers to submit their requests for national TRIPS seminars as
early as possible (preferably in the first half of the year) to ensure proper
coordination and preparation for these activities.[7]
3 REGIONAL TRIPS WORKSHOPS
Level
of this activity: 1 3
3.1 Overview
13. The WTO Secretariat organizes regional workshops related to the
TRIPS Agreement, or to TRIPS in a broader policy context such as digital trade
or public health, with the purpose of making participants fully aware of the TRIPS
Agreement, its implementation, and the possible implications at the regional
and national levels. Funding is available through the Global Trust Fund (GTF)
for these workshops.
14. Regional workshops also serve as an opportunity for government
officials working on TRIPS matters in different developing and least-developed Members
to establish contact with their counterparts from other ministries or
departments of their own government or those in other Members of the region,
facilitating the exchange of information and the sharing of best practices
related to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.
15. These regional workshops may include representatives from WIPO and
the World Health Organization (WHO) as resource persons contributing their
knowledge and experience in specialized areas. In addition, other relevant international
organizations, international and regional development institutions, and
organizations, as well as other technical assistance organizations and
bilateral donors involved in TRIPS matters, may be invited to inform
participants of their latest activities.
16. To enhance the efficacy and customization of regional workshops, the
WTO Secretariat initiates and actively engages with Members to identify and
target the specific training requirements related to TRIPS within various
regions. In this context, the WTO Secretariat has scheduled three regional TRIPS workshops in 2024
in close collaboration with Members.
17. As a first step, Members interested to organize a regional workshop
on the TRIPS Agreement in 2025, should consult with the WTO Secretariat.
Subsequently, a Member can submit an official letter indicating the purpose and
expected outcome of the regional workshop, their expected contribution, the
participation and contribution of other partners, as well as the proposed dates
and venue. This request should be addressed to the ITTC Director and sent by
e-mail to ittcregionaldesk@wto.org.
Level
of this activity: 1 3
3.2 Regional Workshop on Trade and Public Health for French-Speaking African
Members and Observers, Rabat, Morocco, 28 to 30 May 2024
18. The WTO Secretariat is organizing a Regional Workshop on Trade and
Public Health, in Rabat, Morocco from 28 to 30 May 2024, for government
officials from WTO Members and Observers from French-speaking Africa. The
workshop adopts a comprehensive perspective on the intricate connections among
public health, trade, and intellectual property. It embraces a
multidisciplinary approach, drawing from various fields to delve into these
interlinked domains. Detailed information on the Regional Workshop, including
eligibility criteria, selection process, application form is available in Annex II.
Level of this activity: 1 3
3.3 Sub-Regional Workshop on Trade and Public Health for South East
Asian Members and Observers, Bangkok, Thailand, 6 to 8 November 2024
19. At the request of the National Commission on International Trade and
Health Study (NCITHS), Thailand, the WTO Secretariat will organize a sub-regional
workshop on Trade and Public Health for Members and Observers from the South East
Asian Region on 6 to 8 November 2024. The Regional workshop will be held
back-to-back with the International Trade and Health Conference organized by
NCITHS on 4 to 5 November 2024. Detailed information on eligibility criteria,
the selection process and deadlines will be announced in July 2024 and invitations circulated to
eligible technical assistance developing and least-developed Members and
Observers in due course.
Level of this activity: 1 3
3.4 Regional workshop for Central, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the
Caucasus, Vienna, Austria, 12 to 15 November 2024
20. The regional event will be held in collaboration with the Joint
Vienna Institute at their headquarters in Vienna, Austria. It will target
officials that are responsible for cross-cutting TRIPS issues and will be held
from 12 to 15 November 2024. The workshop is structured to encompass two
segments: an initial part offering a comprehensive overview of TRIPS Agreement
and its provisions, followed by a second component delving into the dynamic
interaction between the TRIPS Agreement and contemporary public policy
issues. Information including a detailed programme, eligibility criteria, the
selection process and deadlines will be announced in August 2024.
4 GENEVA BASED-THEMATIC WORKSHOPS
Level of this activity: 1 3
4.1 WTO Workshop on the Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS
Agreement: Incentives for Technology Transfer to LDCs, 23 to 25 April 2024
21. The WTO Secretariat will organize
the Workshop on the Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement
in Geneva, Switzerland, on 23 to 25 March 2024 to
enable least-developed Members and Observers to analyse and enhance the
benefits of the transparency mechanism concerning technology transfer measures
under Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement (as established by the Decision
of the Council for TRIPS (WTO document IP/C/28) in
line with the direction given by WTO Members in the Doha Ministerial Decision
on Implementation-related issues and concerns (_WT/MIN(01)/17).
22. The Workshop comprises two segments: a two-day workshop segment on
23 to 24 April 2024 and one day reporting and review segment within the TRIPS
Council's formal meeting on 25 April 2024, which together aim to
promote dialogue and coordination between developed Members reporting
technology transfer incentives under Article 66.2, and their intended
beneficiaries, the LDC Members. The
Workshop also provides an opportunity to improve the use of this transparency
mechanism on incentives for transfer of technology, so as to respond more
effectively to the technological needs identified by LDCs. The Workshop is
based on the Article 66.2 reports submitted by developed Members in 2023
(circulated in document _IP/C/R/TTI series), current work on
trade and technology transfer at the WTO, and LDCs' priority needs. More
information on key workshop outcomes will be circulated to Members via the WTO
website.
Level of this activity: 1 3
4.2 WIPO-WTO Executive Programme on Intellectual Property Issues for
Senior Government Officials, 3 to 14 June 2024
23. The Secretariats of WIPO and the WTO will jointly organize the
WIPO-WTO Executive Programme on Intellectual Property Issues for Senior
Government officials, from 3 to 14 June 2024. The Governments of Members and
Observers to the WTO, eligible for technical assistance, received an invitation
letter with the application form via their WTO Representation, on 20 March
2024.
24. The main objective of the
Programme is to update government officials from technical assistance
beneficiaries on the activities and instruments of WIPO and the WTO, and to
provide a forum for them to exchange information and ideas with the two
Secretariats and with a range of policymakers and organizations based in
Geneva. The emphasis will be on recent developments and policy issues,
including those currently under debate in the two Organizations and in other
international organizations. As an Executive Programme, it is designed for senior government
officials who already have a strong background in IP matters, including the
international legal and policy dimensions. This programme is not suitable as an
introductory course, and nominees are required to have sufficient background in
IP policy or practice to be selected. Please consult
the information in Annex III.
Level of this activity: 1 3
4.3 Trade and Public Health Workshop, 30 September to 4 October 2024
25. The Secretariat of the WTO, in close collaboration with the Secretariats of the WHO and WIPO will organize the Annual Trade and
Public Health Workshop in Geneva, from 30 September to
4 October 2024. The Workshop aims to improve the capacity of government officials to
analyse policy choices, address multidisciplinary issues, and foster smooth
domestic coordination through a comprehensive understanding of overlapping
policy issues with bearing on public health and their relationship with WTO
Agreements. The Workshop's content is multidisciplinary and based on the 2nd
Edition of the WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Study "Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections
between Public Health, Intellectual Property and Trade".
26. The Workshop is
intended for a global audience from government officials working on trade,
intellectual property, and public health issues, and
fosters collaborative linkages and coordination between officials working in
these three areas of policy responsibility.
During June 2024,
WTO Members and Observers, eligible to benefit from training and
technical cooperation activities, will be invited to submit up to three
nominations of capital-based officials, from different government authorities
or agencies, of which one could be possibly selected. Further details on eligibility criteria, the expected application
process and selection process are available in Annex IV.
5 ACTIVITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WIPO
Level of this activity: 1 3
27. The WIPO-WTO Colloquium for
Intellectual Property Teachers, Academics and Researchers in Africa, and the IP Scholars
Africa (IPSA) Conference, will be held in-person at the University of Cape Town,
South Africa from 5 to 9 August 2024. Specifically, the WIPO-WTO Colloquium
Africa is scheduled from 5 to 8 August 2024 and it will be followed by the IPSA
Conference on 9 August 2024.
28. The WIPO-WTO Colloquium will provide IP academics from Africa a
platform to: (i) enhance their understanding of international developments in
IP law and policy; (ii) share comprehensive updates on the status of WIPO and
WTO agreements;(iii) foster insights on current activities in both
organizations relevant to the African region; (iv) map existing IP teaching and
scholarship in the region; and (iv) facilitate debate and collaboration among
the academic community in Africa.
29. Candidates with an advanced degree and teaching experience in IP law
or international law, economics, management with a specialization in IP, who
are fluent in English and have Africa‑focused IP research are encouraged to
apply. IP teachers and researchers are welcome to apply for the WIPO-WTO
Colloquium Africa by submitting an online application through the WIPO
eLearning centre by 15 May 2024.
Detailed information on the WIPO-WTO Colloquium is available on the WIPO Academy webpage and in Annex
V.
Level
of this activity: 1 3
5.2 WIPO-WTO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property 2024
30. This 18th Colloquium jointly organized by WIPO and the
WTO for teachers of intellectual property from developing and least-developed
Members will be organized in November or
early December 2024. The colloquium seeks to be a multidisciplinary event,
open to economists and other university teachers working in the field of
intellectual property.
31. The colloquium will update university teachers on the activities and
instruments of the WIPO and the WTO with focus on important policy issues under
negotiation or discussion in the two organizations. Additionally, it seeks to
enhance and organize the exchange of practical knowledge regarding pertinent
national or regional experiences between university educators and the two
Secretariats. Special attention will be given to empowering participants to devise
practical strategies for enhancing teaching methodologies. To sustain this
momentum, the colloquium will foster the establishment and reinforcement of
connections between participants and trainers, as well as subject matter
experts, facilitating ongoing dialogue and collaboration in the realms of
intellectual property teaching and research.
32. Normally, up to 35 places are available for applicants from WTO developing and least-developed Members and Observers, eligible to
benefit from training and technical cooperation activities. Expenses for 30 participants will be jointly borne by the WTO and
WIPO. An additional five places will be available for applicants from developed
Members. It is expected
that between mid-August and September 2024,
the WTO and WIPO Secretariat will issue the call for applications through their
respective websites and regular channels.
6 OUTREACH ACTIVITIES UNDER THE AUSPICES
OF WHO-WIPO-WTO TRILATERAL COOPERATION ON TRADE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN 2024
6.1 Series of briefings for Health, Trade and IP Attachés
33. The WHO,
WIPO and the WTO will jointly organize a briefing series for Geneva-based
Health, IP, and Trade Attachés. These briefings aim to provide delegates with
more comprehensive, multi‑institutional, multidisciplinary assistance and
expertise to address challenges encountered at the intersection of public
health, IP, and trade. The first in-person joint meeting will be hosted by the
WHO on 7 May 2024 at its
headquarters in Geneva. Information about the topic and logistics, and a
detailed agenda will be shared shortly. The second meeting is tentatively
scheduled for 2 July 2024, and will be hosted by WIPO. Delegations
have been invited to submit suggestions for topics that could be usefully addressed
by the trilateral briefing series.
6.2 WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Technical Webinars on Public Health, IP and
Trade
34. WHO, WIPO and WTO will continue their series of trilateral webinars
to address topical issues (information about past webinars is available here). The 5th technical webinar
is scheduled for 20 June 2024
and will address issues at the intersection between public health, IP and
competition law and policy.
6.3 11th Trilateral Symposium
35. WHO, WIPO and WTO will continue to convene high-level technical
symposia (information about past symposia is available here). Theme and dates of the
11th Trilateral Symposium will be communicated in an update of this note.
6.4 Trilateral Technical Assistance Platform
36. The Trilateral
Technical Assistance Platform serves as a comprehensive resource for capacity‑building
initiatives addressing various challenges at the convergence of health, trade,
and IP. Its primary objective is to offer a centralized avenue for accessing
the collective expertise of WHO, WIPO and WTO alongside other relevant
partners, concerning the overarching nexus of trade and public health. Through
the Trilateral Platform, stakeholders can solicit tailored technical support to
effectively leverage available policy and legal mechanisms, including TRIPS
flexibilities. This assistance is aimed at facilitating equitable access to
medical technologies and fostering innovation within the pharmaceutical sector.
Furthermore, the platform facilitates collaboration and knowledge‑sharing among
its members, enhancing coordination and promoting best practices across diverse
contexts.