Applications are now open for the WIPO Joint Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Intellectual Property, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, offered jointly by the WIPO Academy, the National Intellectual Property (IP) Center of Georgia (SAKPATENTI) and Kutaisi International University (KIU) in Kutaisi, Georgia.
A Strategic Partnership for IP and Innovation Capacity Building
The Joint MBA is offered through the collaboration of the WIPO Academy, SAKPATENTI, and Kutaisi International University (KIU). The partnership combines WIPO's global experience in IP education, SAKPATENTI's national IP policy expertise, and KIU's academic faculty, infrastructure, and campus facilities.
The program equips professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills to drive innovation across small and medium enterprises, corporations, and the public sector. Graduates will be able to develop comprehensive IP and innovation strategies, applying theories, methods, and tools to real-world contexts. The program also responds to growing demand for professionals who can integrate IP fundamentals including copyright, patents, and trademarks, into business planning and strategic decision-making.
What Participants Will Learn and program structure
The MBA is delivered over 12 months through a hybrid mode comprising three distinct phases:
- Distance Learning Phase (September 21, 2026 – January 17, 2027): Online courses covering IP fundamentals, management, and entrepreneurship.
- Residential Phase (March 1 – May 15, 2027): On-site learning at the KIU campus in Kutaisi, Georgia, comprising mandatory and elective courses, case studies, workshops, and legal drafting exercises.
- Research Paper Phase (May 17 – June 30, 2027): Completion and submission of the final research paper, which concludes the program.
The comprehensive curriculum covers:
- Entrepreneurship in the Context of Innovation
- Financial Management: Business Valuation
- Strategic Management and Development
- Advanced Course on Intellectual Property (Industrial Property & Copyright and Related Rights)
- Innovation Management
- Contract Law Applied to Business
- Intellectual Property Licensing and Commercialization
- Product Development & Agile Innovation
Who Should Apply?
The Joint MBA is designed for professionals working in or aspiring roles within SMEs, corporations, and public institutions who wish to strengthen their ability to develop and implement IP and innovation strategies. It is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking practical skills at the intersection of intellectual property, business, and entrepreneurship.