Inventor Assistance Program (IAP)

Apply as a beneficiary or volunteer on the Online IAP Platform.

Every spark of genius can transform our world. With the right support, inventors translate creativity into progress that benefits everyone. This opportunity should be available to all inventors, regardless of their financial means.

WIPO’s Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) connects individuals and small businesses with qualified professionals who help them navigate the patent system at no cost, increasing the odds of turning innovative ideas into commercial assets.

By empowering underserved inventors, the IAP serves as a catalyst for global innovation, ensuring inventors worldwide have the chance to make a lasting impact.

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IAP helped Peruvian inventor patent a wastewater treatment system

IAP at a glance

Participating countries - Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa.

Individual inventors and small businesses from participating countries who meet the local eligibility criteria determined by each country.

Qualifying inventors receive help securing patents or utility models in their country and internationally, including through the PCT system. Beneficiaries can also get guidance for commercializing patents supported by the Program.

No. The IAP does not provide any direct finance assistance. While volunteers provide their services for free, beneficiaries remain responsible for official patent fees, translation costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses necessary to complete patent applications.