WIPO's National Awards acknowledge innovators and creators recognized by governmental institutions and other institutions in member states.
The WIPO National Awards categories are for: inventors, creativity, enterprises, schoolchildren and users of WIPO services. The WIPO National Awards were formerly called National Medal Awards.
The WIPO National Award for Inventors was launched in 1979 to stimulate inventive and innovative activity around the world and to recognize the contribution of inventors to national wealth and development.
The WIPO National Award for Inventors is offered by national organizations to outstanding inventors. Particular attention is given to those who have made inventions which are considered to be significant contributions to the economic and technological development of their countries. Candidates for the WIPO National Award for Inventors must have obtained or applied for a patent or utility model for their innovation.
WIPO National Awards are offered in the context of international exhibitions or competitions at the highest national level (such as the International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, or the Seoul International Invention Fair).
The selection procedure is the responsibility of the organizers, within the framework of the guidelines provided by WIPO.
The WIPO National Award for Creativity recognizes outstanding authors, designers, performers and producers, including the creators of software.
The WIPO National Award for Creativity is offered to those individuals who have made a substantial contribution to cultural, social and economic development in the field of copyright and related rights. It recognizes those whose artistry and imagination have resulted in works, designs (including textile designs), performances or productions that have had outstanding impact or whose activities have fostered greater respect for the creative output of those working in the cultural, entertainment and software sectors.
The WIPO National Award for Creativity may be given in the context of a national award scheme in the field of cultural and artistic achievement, software development, multimedia or the like. The selection criteria may include the candidates’ cultural or economic contribution, the level of public interest that they have inspired and their potential to act as role models for others.
The selection procedure is the responsibility of the organizers, within the framework of the guidelines provided by WIPO.
The objective of the WIPO National Award for Enterprises is to encourage businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and institutions to make imaginative use of the IP system in their business activities.
Candidates eligible for the WIPO National Award for Enterprises are those that make outstanding use of the IP system by, for example:
The WIPO National Awards for Enterprises can be given on the occasion of exhibitions (industrial, technological or commercial) or conferences of national or international importance. The aim is to publicize the role of IP rights as important business assets, to encourage enterprises to make creative use of the IP system and to recognize acts of good citizenship by IP-based businesses.
The selection procedure is the responsibility of the organizers, within the framework of the guidelines provided by WIPO.
The WIPO National Award for WIPO Users is awarded to users of WIPO’s IP services. The National Award recognizes the early adoption or innovative use of these services.
These services include the PCT System (patents), the Madrid System (trademarks), the Hague System (designs) and the Lisbon System (appellations of origin), together with the services of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
The WIPO National Award for WIPO Users is awarded at the discretion of WIPO.
The WIPO National Award for Schoolchildren is awarded to children in primary or secondary education who have achieved distinction in a field of school activity related to the IP system. It gives recognition to outstanding efforts in the field of innovation and creativity.
WIPO National Awards have been given to schoolchildren for achievement in invention, design, film-making and creative writing, including the composition of essays on IP.
The selection procedure is the responsibility of the organizers, within the framework of the guidelines provided by WIPO.