Call for Papers: WIPO Global Research Experts Meeting (GREM) & European Policy for Intellectual Property (EPIP) Conference

Bridging Research and Policy on Women’s Participation in Innovation, Creativity and Intellectual Property (IP)

(A WIPO-EPIP Collaboration)

WIPO is pleased to invite researchers at all stages of their careers (from PhD students to senior scholars), as well as policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders, to submit papers for a Conference Special Session dedicated to advancing research on women in the global innovation, creativity, and IP ecosystems.

This year, the WIPO Global Research Experts Meeting (GREM) on Improving Women’s Participation in Innovation, Creativity, and IP will take place during, and in collaboration with, the annual conference of the European Policy for Intellectual Property (EPIP) Association from September 9-11, 2026. Bringing together the multidisciplinary spirit of the EPIP community with WIPO’s policy-oriented and data-driven research agenda under the IP and Gender Action Plan (IPGAP), this Special Session aims to improve data, measurement, and methodologies on participation gaps and explore how IP systems can better support inclusive innovation.

Submissions: Please submit your contribution through EPIP 2026’s conference website by May 3, 2026

Participation support: Researchers from all regions are encouraged to apply. Special encouragement is given to early-career researchers. Accepted submissions might be eligible for conference participation support (e.g., travel and conference fees). Support will be given on a limited budget basis and giving priority to contributions from developing countries.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the EPIP Association’s conference website for further information on the full conference programme, logistics, and registration details.

Scope and Topics of Interest

We welcome submissions from all disciplines (economics, law, management, political science, sociology, data science, etc.) and methodological approaches (empirical, theoretical, qualitative, experimental, or mixed methods).

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Participation Gaps in IP Systems	Women’s participation gaps in patenting, trademarks, design rights, and creative industries Broadening participation across the innovation lifecycle Measurement of gender and representation gaps in IP (new indicators, metrics, and data) Intersectionality in IP participation (gender, income, geography, ethnicity)
Barriers and Drivers of Participation	Structural barriers to women’s participation in innovation and IP systems Entry and exit dynamics of women in IP-intensive activities Role of education, networks, and institutional environments Cultural and organizational determinants of gender gaps
Economic and Social Impacts	Economic and social costs of underrepresentation in IP systems Diversity on innovation teams and their outcomes Inclusive innovation and its contribution to economic growth
Policy, Institutions, and Impact Evaluation	Evaluation of gender-related IP policies and interventions Evidence-based inclusion policymaking and institutional reforms Monitoring and evaluation frameworks for inclusion in IP systems Role of IP governance in reducing barriers and broadening participation
Innovation Ecosystems and Commercialization	Women’s access to finance, capital, and grants for IP-based ventures IP commercialization and entrepreneurship among women Women’s participation in innovation ecosystems in developing and lower-income countries Role of firms, universities, and public institutions in the gender gap
Emerging Areas	Artificial intelligence biases and impact to innovation outcomes Women’s participation in intangible innovation and non-conventional IP (e.g., trade secrets, traditional knowledge) IP and inclusive technological transitions