IP in the Innovation Ecosystem
What is an innovation ecosystem?
An innovation ecosystem is a combination of all the stakeholders that make choices influencing innovation-related outcomes and, consequently, the direction of innovation. Stakeholders include businesses, intermediaries, research institutes, technology transfer bodies, financial entities, government agencies and institutions, including Intellectual Property (IP) Offices, to name a few. IP is crucial in the innovation ecosystem as it incentivizes creativity, attracts and protects investments, fosters economic growth, and balances public and private interests.
WIPO’s role
WIPO supports Member States in developing and strengthening IP and innovation ecosystems to boost economic growth and sustainable development. It assists researchers, innovators, and SMEs in leveraging IP, with a focus on Technology Transfer, enterprise growth, IP commercialization and its role as an asset class. It also supports national IP strategies, economic analysis, dispute resolution services, technical assistance to the judiciary, and access to legal IP databases.
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Delivering evidence-based insights
WIPO gathers global IP statistics and analyzes the impact of IP and innovation policies on economic performance. We provide public access to IP data, judicial trends and insights into how IP affects economic growth, innovation and the creative economy. The Global Innovation Index, provided by WIPO, serves as a tool for global innovation benchmarking. Through IP analytics, we uncover technology trends and deliver data-driven intelligence to guide R&D, innovation policies and commercialization strategies.
Our team also helps Member States in formulating National IP Strategies to boost economic development, innovation, and creativity.
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Empowering innovation and creating value
WIPO supports innovation through both local assistance (through our TISC network) and global technology transfer initiatives. We help universities and R&D institutions access IP systems and databases, such as the Institutional IP Policies Database, and support IP management, to transform research into commercial products and services. Our teams offer a wide range of tailored training opportunities, such as patent drafting.
WIPO also helps businesses, (i.e. entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and MSMEs), leverage IP for growth. We provide tailored tools, strategies, and resources to support businesses, such as the IP Management Clinics.
We support inventors, through initiatives, such as the Inventor Assistance Program in navigating the IP system and maximizing their potential. By leveraging their IP, we help them attract investment and accelerate business growth through targeted support in IP-backed finance and commercialization.
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Facilitating IP dispute resolutions and supporting legal ecosystems
WIPO empowers judicial and intellectual property authorities to enhance IP dispute resolution and provides neutral international alternatives to court litigation for IP and technology disputes, offering efficient, cost-effective mediation, arbitration and domain name dispute resolution services to resolve conflicts outside national court systems.
WIPO also provides platforms for judicial exchange, resources, and tailored judicial education and capacity-building programs to meet individual Member State needs. The WIPO Lex global database offers access to over 20,000 IP-related legal entries, including laws, treaties, and judicial decisions.