WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO)

At its meeting of 26-27 June 2025, the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental organization observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial cooperation programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.

The present document reproduces the information which has been received from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) by means of a communication dated 26 September 2025.

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1  Introduction

1.  The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) undertakes a wide range of technical cooperation activities to support its member States in implementing their obligations under the TRIPS Agreement. These activities are carried out in response to requests from least-developed countries (LDCs), developing countries, and countries with economies in transition. They encompass TRIPS-related legislative advice under international IP treaties, as well as those under the TRIPS Agreement. Some of these activities fall within the framework of the 1995 WIPO-WTO Cooperation Agreement and the ensuing 2001 WIPO-WTO joint initiative on technical cooperation to assist LDCs.

2.  WIPO's legal and technical cooperation activities enable member States to implement their TRIPS Agreement obligations. More broadly, such activities provide countries, in particular LDCs, developing countries, and countries with economies in transition, with an opportunity to formulate and implement effective strategies and policies aimed at creating, protecting, and managing intellectual property (IP) to enhance participation in the global innovation economy. A key focus of WIPO's technical cooperation is to assist countries to integrate IP into overall national development plans and public policies in areas such as health, trade, education, research, competition, and technology transfer. WIPO also focuses on providing targeted support for MSMEs as well as women and youth innovators and creators to ensure they can develop the technical skills and awareness to make the most of their IP to support economic development.

3.  IP is critical to encouraging innovation and creativity, as well as access to it, necessary for effectively responding to many global challenges. A balanced and effective IP system is an essential catalyst to this end. Through WIPO's technical cooperation activities member States are building IP systems and innovation capabilities for the benefit of all.

4.  WIPO will continue to maintain and strengthen its cooperation with all member States and partners including through the WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Cooperation to address current and emerging issues and to create a world where innovation and creativity from anywhere is supported by IP for the good of everyone.

5.  The Annex provides a list of the relevant activities undertaken by WIPO in the period from September 2024 to August 2025. This list is not exhaustive.