About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

FIT/Japan IP Global Panel Discussion and Exhibition at WIPO

January 24, 2025

From December 9 to 11, 2024, the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global) hosted a panel discussion and exhibition as a side event to the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) 33rd Session at WIPO headquarters in Geneva. The event showcased the significant role of intellectual property (IP) in empowering people and driving sustainable development worldwide.

Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP): Thirty-Third Session (Image: WIPO)

Visionaries’ Journey through the FIT/Japan IP Global’s Activities

The panel discussion held on December 10, 2024 featured five inspiring panelists who had previously participated in WIPO projects supported by FIT/Japan IP Global.

watch the event

As opening remarks, Mr. Kenichiro Natsume, Assistant Director General of WIPO, acknowledged the Japan Patent Office's long-standing support through FIT/Japan IP Global as the donor, underscoring the critical role of IP in driving innovation, fostering business growth, and advancing sustainable development. Mr. Takuya Yasui, Director of the Multilateral Policy Office at the Japan Patent Office, highlighted Japan's ongoing commitment through the FIT/Japan IP Global, emphasizing the importance of leveraging IP for sustainable growth and expressed that the panelists' insights would inspire participants to harness IP for commercial success.

The panelists shared their personal success stories and explored how IP has been a catalyst for business growth, job creation, and impactful social change. The event brought together approximately 70 participants including online participants and served as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of IP and recognize how WIPO's initiatives, supported by FIT/Japan IP Global, contribute to sustainable growth for communities around the world. The event also served as a platform to foster global networking, paving the way for enhanced collaboration among countries.

Featured Panelists and Highlights:

(Image: Japan Patent Office)
  • Ms. Rita Aku Shika Diabah (CEO and Founder, Yesli Ice, Ghana):
    A mentee of the "Women in Agribusiness Coaching and Mentoring Project" conducted by Division for Africa, Ms. Diabah shared how mentoring helped her grasp the importance of IP for business success. By leveraging IP tools through the project, she has been expanding her agricultural export business beyond Ghana to Zimbabwe and Namibia, creating employment opportunities and empowering women in her community.
     
  • Mr. David Jeng (Founder and Managing Consultant, Bliss Executives, Gambia):
    A mentor in the same project, Mr. Jeng highlighted IP as an essential element, particularly for women entrepreneurs. He emphasized that tailored IP strategies through the project have driven business growth and job creation, positioning IP as a cornerstone of Africa's economic transformation.
     
  • Mr. Joaquin Basanta (President, Agro Sustentable, Argentina)
    As a technology provider of “WIPO GREEN Latin America Acceleration Project” in Argentina conducted by Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, Mr. Basanta has been focusing on scaling the bioinsecticide and biofertilize. He credited WIPO GREEN’s matchmaking platform with connecting him to partners, enabling his company to promote environmental technologies more globally and further contribute to the SDGs.
     
  • Ms. Ivette Ortiz Montenegro (General Manager and partner, IALE Tecnología Chile SpA., Chile)
    A consultant in the same project in Chile, Ms. Ortiz Montenegro stressed the importance of understanding the needs of technology seekers and building trust with reliable providers. She noted that overcoming funding barriers is essential to advancing environmental innovation.
     
  • Ms. Judith Reymundo (Member of the Asociacion de Mujeres Empresarias Ashaninkas Iroperanto Koya, Peru)
    Leading a project to produce tea while protecting the Amazon rainforest, Ms. Reymundo explained how "WIPO's Community Enterprises Program" conducted by the Traditional Knowledge Division has supported indigenous women in branding their products. This program has transformed the lives of indigenous women dramatically, fostered sustainable economic growth, and created positive impacts on the community.

The panel discussion also explored strategies to promote the broader adoption of IP tools in their region, as well as the challenges they face in advancing their businesses further. The panelists also called for continued collaboration, capacity-building, and support to empower people to leverage IP in fostering innovation and driving creative endeavours.

Discussions were moderated by Mr. Kunihiko Fushimi, Director, International Classifications and Standards Division, FIT/Japan IP Global’s Fund Manager, WIPO.

(Image: Japan Patent Office)

Exhibition Showcasing WIPO’s Initiatives Supported by FIT/Japan IP Global

Alongside the panel discussion, an engaging exhibition highlighted WIPO’s recent initiatives supported by the FIT/Japan IP Global. Organized in collaboration with various WIPO departments, the exhibition showcased various success stories of women, small businesses, and youth leveraging IP to foster business growth.

Key Highlights:

  • Exhibition posters shared many success stories of how participants in WIPO initiatives utilized IP tools such as trademarks to achieve significant milestones. For instance, some secured trademarks that enhanced brand visibility, leading to increased sales and revenue growth. Additionally, as successful matchmaking through WIPO GREEN, the posters demonstrated how registering their needs or technologies facilitated the dissemination of green technology to global markets, contributing to the achievement of SDGs.
(Image: WIPO)
  • Visitors were also captivated by the unique agriproducts and intricately designed traditional ornaments produced by women entrepreneurs participating in WIPO initiatives supported by FIT/Japan IP Global, highlighting the transformative impact of IP in driving business growth and fostering innovation.
(Image: WIPO)

Empowering People Through IP: FIT/Japan IP Global’s Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability
FIT/Japan IP Global continues to empower people worldwide through its support for WIPO’s efforts in helping businesses expand and contributing to the achievement of global goals by promoting the use of IP. FIT/Japan IP Global remains committed to advancing IP knowledge, fostering innovation, and building a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

Find out more

https://www3.wipo.int/contact/en/area.jsp?area=devcoop https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/ https://www.wipo.int/tools/en/disclaim.html https://www.wipo.int/en/web/privacy-policy/ https://www.wipo.int/en/web/accessibility/ https://www.wipo.int/tools/en/sitemap.html https://www3.wipo.int/newsletters/en/ https://www.wipo.int/en/web/podcasts/ https://www.wipo.int/news/en/