مهار قدرت مالکیت معنوی - استراتژی و برنامه های آکادمی WIPO در سراسر جهان

The WIPO Worldwide Academy’s strategy aims to achieve four “Is,” namely to be international, interdisciplinary, interactive and in-depth in its five programs; Policy Development Program, Professional Development Program, Education Degree/Diploma Program, Research and Executive Program, and Distance Learning. Building upon its eight years of existence and initial achievements, the WIPO Worldwide Academy will continue to strengthen its programs and partnerships with academic institutions all over the world. The Academy’s objectives, target audiences, content, initial achievements and future challenges are discussed.

In today’s knowledge-based economy, creativity is a powerful resource that can be harnessed by any country seeking to develop and strengthen its economy. The ability to innovate and create and to generate ideas is inherent in each one of us. However, not all of the good ideas and imagination can bear fruit. A successful process of innovation is a complicated one requiring a number of elements such as a business-friendly environment, an efficient infrastructure and sufficient investment to allow entrepreneurs to undertake a series of actions to set up and develop their enterprises. Many realize the important role of intellectual property (IP) which stimulates human intellect and empowers people, particularly those with the power of creative imagination. Others understand its renewed potential in the context of a knowledge-based economy which is supported by risk-taking entrepreneurship seeking more value-added products and services. Intellectual property is not new. But its modern strategy and management are new [1]. In many countries, only a few people possess enough knowledge and skill sets to assist their nationals in transforming creativity into valuable economic assets through the IP system. The lack of human resources capable of understanding the value of IP and the lack of use of the IP system is a major hindrance for development. Such a deficiency is mostly due to a lack of political support and adoption of policies that integrate IP into national development. Due to this lack of knowledge, some decision-makers think that the IP system is exclusively for the elite multinational companies. That perception discourages nationals from using the IP system. It is this vicious circle that the international IP community wishes to break. It is also one of the most urgent and important challenges facing WIPO Worldwide Academy, a body set up in March 1998 as a central coordinating mechanism for human resources development undertaken by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), to serve as an educational institution which provides teaching, training, and research services in intellectual property.

Efforts at the national, regional and international level for IP human resources development need more international cooperation at all levels including government ministries responsible for IP, education, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, public health and environment; various faculties of universities, training institutes for IP professionals, and business, to name but a few. All the constituencies and stakeholders need more interdisciplinary approaches to IP education and training. Enhancement of content of programs, cooperation between educators and administrators of programs, an effective use of the Internet and sharing useful training tools and material will have to be explored. The delivery and results will be enhanced with limited resources if common approaches and sharing of tools are internationally coordinated. The recent boom in establishing national and regional IP Academies [10] and training centers provides opportunities to reinforce international cooperation in which the WIPO Academy plans to continue to play a leading role.