Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global) supports developing and least developed countries (LDCs) to improve their knowledge of IP systems and enhance their IP capabilities to facilitate innovation and technology transfer worldwide.

Since the government of Japan, through the Japan Patent Office (JPO), made its first voluntary contribution to WIPO in 1987, it has contributed to more than 100 million CHF to more than 100 developing countries and LDCs for supporting diverse activities in the field of Industrial Property. While originally focusing on Asia and Pacific region and African region, Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global was established in 2019 to expand the supporting area over the globe. Currently, annual work plan is around 8 million CHF.

The Funds-in-Trust Japan IP Global, while fully using the Japan's expertise and experiences in cooperation with developing and least developed countries in the field of IP, contributes to energizing IP ecosystems in the whole world through supporting WIPO's activities for the following objectives:

  • To establish a world in which innovations originated in developing and least developed countries are properly protected as IP and commercialized, through establishing self-sustaining IP ecosystems in respective countries;
  • To form the Global IP network through connecting systems, people and information around IP of respective countries;
  • To broaden the roles of IP for economic growth and social vibrancy through fostering deepened understanding of IP among experts in other fields and also the general public; and
  • To contribute to the achievement of SDGs through promoting the diffusion of innovative technologies around the globe and implementing activities to solve global issues by using IP.

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Quick video overview of the FIT/Japan IP Global

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The funds at work

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SMEs and Startups

FIT/Japan IP Global supports SMEs and Startups in taking actional steps to implement IP strategies for their businesses. We also support universities/research institutions for the best use of the IP system and youth for acquisition of IP knowledge.

1. Support SMEs, start-ups and young innovators

IP Management Clinic (IPMC) for SMEs Program: To provide the selected companies with support to better manage and use their IP through personalized, one-on-one mentorship, expert advice and training. Recent topics:

  • IPMC for SMEs in AI in the Arab countries: September 26 (Online) (News article)

Skills Building of Young Designers on IP Protection and Management: To enhance skills and knowledge among young designers on the protection and management of IP, through the development of industrial design and/or other IP solutions for producers' groups. Recent topics:

  • The Pilot Project for Brazil and Chile: August 11, Santiago (Chile) and September 26, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (News article)

Mobile App Project: To provide a readily-accessible source of information on registration and protection of industrial designs and a platform for connecting members of the design communities and other stakeholders in the region. Recent topics:

  • The Design Mobile App for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - AfricDeezayn

2. IP Weeks

To strengthen the capacity of countries in the region, who have taken steps to harness the IP system to accelerate their economic transformation, FIT Japan IP Global supports workshops targeting two groups of stakeholders:

  • SMEs and business competitiveness: Aimed at providing support in building the capacity of SMEs.
  • Universities and R&D Institutions, and their interface with other IP asset frameworks
  • Recent topics:
    • 2023 June 27 to 30, Gaborone (Botswana);
    • 2023 February 21 to 24, Kampala (Uganda) (Meeting documents)

3. IP policies and IP Management for Universities and research institutions

To analyze existing mechanisms for IP policy and management, and to assist in their development and improvement for universities and research institutions seeking to partner with industry or other organizations:

  • WIPO-ASEAN Regional Meeting for Presenting the Projects on Institutional IP Policies and on IP Valuation (News article)

4. Researches and Case studies

The results of the researches on various IP topics would help everyone learn the importance of utilizing IP in her or his businesses and communities. FIT Japan IP Global also supports IP Advantage, which provides useful information on IP case studies. Recent researches include;

5. Blue Economy Initiative

The Blue Economy Initiative that aims to cultivate a self-sustaining and culturally relevant innovation hub in Caribbean community has been launched in 2021. Wide variety of stakeholders gathered to discuss their ideas and worked together to co-create new projects.

(Photo: GETTYIMAGES/NARIN EUNGSUWAT)

Enhanced human resource capacities

FIT Japan IP Global supports diverse education, training, and research opportunities. These include: scholarships, fellowship programs and the organization of workshops on the effective use of IP, such as patent drafting and searching courses.

Gender and Diversity

FIT Japan IP Global recognises the importance of promoting gender equality and diversity. Our support includes enhancing women's engagement in IP and innovation.

1. Branding projects

FIT Japan IP Global assists manufacturers to acquire the IP rights to brand their products. Women in basket weaving community have formed an association to market their products, brand their products, and develop their livelihoods.

2. Support women entrepreneurs

Modernizing IP offices

FIT Japan IP Global supports a number of projects designed to help IP offices modernize and digitize their infrastructure and working practices to enhance efficiency of procedures and improve the experience their users.

Video: Learn more about WIPO's IP offices modernization projects, which FIT Japan IP Global has been supporting for years, taking the achievement at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) as an example.

1. Data capture, Data validation, Digitization, Workflow optimization, and Full-text conversion

Data capture and digitization projects have been implemented to capture data from and digitize IP files such as trademark, industrial design, and patent documents. Full-text conversion of patent documents has also been conducted.

Recent topics:

  • Full-text conversion project for the Philippines patent documents was completed and 22,403 patent documents were converted to full-text data and loaded to PATENTSCOPE in 2023 (News article);
  • Full-text conversion project for Argentine patent documents was completed and 15,487 patent documents were converted to full-text data in 2023.
  • In Malawi, Digitization of IP Documents (Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs, and Utility Models) was concluded and approximately 500,000 pages were digitized in 2022 (News article)
  • o In Thailand, digitization project was completed in order to scan 43,000 patent applications covering 5,580,884 pages (1997-2015) in 2022 (News article)
  • In Eswatini, data validation and verification project for Eswatini Registrar General's Office was successfully completed in 2022 (News article)

2. Business software solutions for IP offices

The WIPO IP Office Suite is a group of software applications that IP Offices can use to support the processing of applications for IP rights. The WIPO IP Office suite is made up of three complementary systems: WIPO IPAS (Industrial Property Administration System), WIPO File, and WIPO Publish. WIPO IPAS is the core of the WIPO Suite and a workflow-based and highly customizable software system that supports all the major business processes of an IP office. FIT Japan IP Global assists with the roll-out of the software applications in national and regional IP offices.

Recent topics:

  • In Myanmar, WIPO File was deployed for accepting re-registration of old trademark system in 2020;
  • In Brunei, WIPO File was successfully deployed in 2019.

3. Data capture, Data validation, Digitization, Workflow optimization, and Full-text conversion

Data capture and digitization projects have been implemented to capture data from and digitize IP files such as trademark, industrial design, and patent documents. Full-text conversion of patent documents has also been conducted.

Recent topics in 2023:

  • Full-text conversion project for the Philippines patent documents was completed and 22,403 patent documents were converted to full-text data and loaded to PATENTSCOPE;
  • Full-text conversion project for Argentine patent documents was completed and 15,487 patent documents were converted to full-text data.

4. Trainings

Trainings for IP office employees or users on IPAS or other IT systems are offered to help IP offices provide fully paperless, digitized services to their users.

Recent topics in 2023:

Forming the Global IP network

(Photo: GettyImages/Gajus)

Policy discussions

FIT Japan IP Global organizes high-level events to help leverage the IP system for innovation and creativity. The events bring together policymakers and help keep lawmakers up-to-date on the latest developments in the field.

  • Head of Intellectual Property Office Conference for Pacific Island countries, October 23, 24 and 26, 2023, Suva (Fiji)
    News article | Meeting documents
  • Third Session of Asian-Arab IP Dialogue between Japan and selected Arab countries on Utilizing the IP System for Economic, Social and Cultural Development in the Digital Era, January 31 and February 1, 2023, Cairo (Egypt)
    News article
(Photo: GettyImages/ abluecup)

Promoting PCT, Madrid and Hague Systems

FIT Japan IP Global organizes a range of workshops and seminars to help people make the most of the PCT, the Madrid and the Hague systems. Seminars are held for users of IP systems as well as for IP office staff.

FIT Japan IP Global also supports creating promotion tools of WIPO's global IP services.

A high-level meeting of African parliamentarians under the auspices of Japan FIT/IP
(Photo: GETTY IMAGES/ALENGO )

Improving WIPO's IT systems

FIT Japan IP Global has been funding the development of WIPO's IT systems, including WIPO CASE, a platform to share useful dossier information among IP Offices.

Deepening the understanding of IP

(Image: WIPO)

Communication to the public

FIT Japan IP Global supports activities that connect IP stakeholders around the world such as World IP Day 2023 and 2022 and the International symposium on Youth (News article).

Teaching materials for beginners:

(Image: WIPO)

Manga

A major goal of the Manga project was to increase public awareness of intellectual property.

The competition invited Japanese manga artists to create an original work that highlighted the health and safety risks associated with purchasing counterfeit products. The winning artwork was translated into several languages.

Contributing to the SDGs

(Photo: WIPO)

WIPO GREEN & Global Health

Innovation and creativity supported by a balanced and effective IP system are essential in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. THe Fund supports the promotion of WIPO GREEN and WIPO's Global Health program, enabling innovation for the economic, social, and cultural development of all countries.

1. Support for WIPO GREEN

FIT Japan IP Global supports technical assistance and capacity building projects to promote innovation and facilitate technology transfer based on the strategic use of IP through WIPO GREEN. WIPO GREEN is an online database and marketplace of inventions and innovations in environmentally friendly technologies supporting global efforts to address climate change by using IP rights to maximize green technology transfer and diffusion.

  • Recent topics
    • WIPO GREEN Partner Networking Event in Japan in 2023 (News article)
    • Matchmaking Consultants for Latin American Acceleration Project Phase 2 (News article)
    • Supporting IP Offices to Develop Green Technology Promotion Initiatives (IPO GREEN) (News article)

2. Support for Global Health

FIT Japan IP Global supports training programs and promoting activities of WIPO's Global Health program. WIPO's Global Health program contributes to providing a better understanding of the role of IP and the complex interlinkages between health technology innovation, technology transfer, access to health technologies and trade.

  • Recent topic: Production of a video featuring the elements of WIPO's Global Health program and people who are engaging in the program in 2018.

Useful resources

Related links

Cooperation

Inside WIPO

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