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WIPO Global Awards

WIPO Global Awards celebrates exceptional enterprises making smart use of intellectual property for commercialization products and services while also bringing a positive contribution to society through their innovation and creativity.

Exclusively dedicated to the small-business community for their exceptional achievements towards:

  • Driving IP assets into profitable commercial ventures
  • Leveraging on IP for business growth
  • Delivering commercial solutions for SDG impact

Each year the Awards program invites small-businesses and startups from all industries sectors around the globe to apply for a chance to become one of up to seven winners that receive:

  • Tailored 1:1 mentoring on strategies for the commercialization of IP assets -including fundraising and commercial partnership opportunities.
  • International promotion and visibility across various business audiences.
  • Attendance to the prestigious Awards Ceremony and networking events in Geneva, with travel expenses covered.
  • Access to WIPO network and resources for IP management advisory.

How to apply

WIPO Global Awards 2024

Application period: January 15 to March 31, 2024

The application period for the 2024 contest is now closed. Stay tuned for finalist and winner information.

Community of winners

2023


Aerosol

Aerosol — Slovenia

Health & Environment
Air quality measurement instruments

Centro de Retina Medica y Quirúrgica (CRMQ)

CRQM — Mexico

Health Tech, Services & Research
Nanotechnology platform for retinal drug delivery

Flexxon

Flexxon — Singapore

Cybersecurity Hardware & Software
AI-powered solutions against real-time ransom attacks

Lactips

Lactips — France

Green Solutions
Plastic-free technology that is fully biodegradable

Westwell

Westwell — China

Green Solutions
Intelligent and eco-friendly solutions for bulk logistics

KissFuture

KissFuture — China

Virtual Reality Technology
Immersive solutions for cinemas and cultural institutions

Yakwetu

Yakwetu — Kenya

Entertainment Technology
Digital content distribution combatting piracy

2022


Hydraloop

Hydraloop — Netherlands

Green Solutions
Designs and produces decentralized water recycling products

Lucence

Raycan — China

Health Services & Research
Medical imaging technology

Shylon

Lucence — Singapore

Health Technology & Research
Early detention and treatment of cancer

Raycan

Shylon — China

Green Solutions
Energy-saving lights for indoor and outdoor use

Splink

Splink — Japan

Health Technology
Diagnosis of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases

Mentoring for winners

Winners receive a tailored mentoring program, designed to boost  winning companies further along their path of commercializing IP-backed innovation and creativity and reach out new financial sources.

International Jury Panel

The winners are selected through the deliberations and evaluation of an independent jury panel comprised of high-profile individuals celebrated for their global achievements.

The jury's composition underscores diversity across geographical, gender, age, cultural, language, and industry spectrums, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive assessment process.

These esteemed figures also represent diverse sectors like technology, business, culture, government, and civil society. Members possess extensive expertise in intellectual property (IP), spanning areas such as creative industries, health, agriculture, manufacturing, IT, telecommunications, tourism, sports, trade, education, and finance.

The making of a trophy

The WIPO Global Awards inspire participants to embrace innovation and make a positive difference to the world through intellectual property. Every award winner receives a specially designed trophy as a symbol of their achievement, honoring their creativity, dedication and hard work.

The art of glassmaking

The trophy itself, a magnificent glass disc, is a tangible representation of excellence. Each one is meticulously handcrafted on the Venetian island of Murano by skilled artisans with over 40 years of experience, based on a concept from WIPO’s own design team.

The process of creating the trophy begins with gathering malleable molten glass from the fire. The disc is formed by layering six sheets of this glass in shades of blue, orange and yellow, fused together in a delicate dance of heat and expertise.

The transformation from molten mixture to solid disc poses a significant challenge and is a true test of the glassmaker’s mastery. The thickness of the glass means it can fracture as it cools, so the trophy is gradually brought to a controlled temperature, allowing the glass to solidify into its final form.

Using shape and color to symbolize innovation

The trophy’s overlapping, translucent ovals represent the pushing of boundaries, the effect of creative thinking on business processes, and the open-mindedness needed to understand, innovate and persist.

The colors reflect passion, drive and determination. The slightly irregular form of the trophy speaks to disruption and change, while the oval cutout marks the space required for continuous self-improvement.

Together the shapes give a rippling effect, echoing the winner’s impact both on their industry and the wider world.

wipo-global-awards-trophy-845
Image: WIPO

About the WIPO Global Awards

The WIPO Global Awards program launched in 2022 is rooted in WIPO’s mission to ensure a world where innovation and creativity from anywhere is supported by intellectual property for the good of everyone.

The Awards aim to encourage the commercialization of IP assets by rewarding inventors, creators and entrepreneurs using intellectual property (IP) rights to achieve their business goals, generate income, create jobs, tackle local and global challenges, and support community and national development.

The annual Awards contest is organized for applicants originating from WIPO's 193 Member States and diverse economic sectors. Initially inclusive of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the contest introduced a new category for startups in 2024.

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