Volunteers

Ready to volunteer for the IAP? Access the IAP Online Platform.

Many talented inventors cannot afford expert guidance to navigate the patent system. As a result, their innovations remain unprotected, never reaching the market, and society loses out on potential breakthroughs.

You can help close this gap. Become part of our global network of IP professionals offering pro bono patent services to qualifying inventors. Unlock opportunities to ensure the whole world can benefit from their innovation.

Video: Singapore patent attorneys talk about why they volunteer for the IAP

Why volunteer for the IAP

Your expertise can change everything. When you help inventors transform their ideas into valuable commercial assets, you are enabling solutions to pressing problems to reach the people who need them most.

Here’s what our volunteers say about their IAP experience and why they find it rewarding:

“I consider it important to participate in the IAP to strengthen the IP culture in my country. Being part of this initiative helps spread the knowledge and importance of IP among local inventors and entrepreneurs, promoting its use in their businesses and transforming it into an everyday tool. It has been a very enriching experience, which has granted me the opportunity to discover interesting innovations, as well as to promote innovation and IP protection in Chile.”

Loreto Vera, Partner, Villaseca Abogados, Chile

“Participating in the IAP as a volunteer is a very rewarding and satisfying experience, as it is a fantastic opportunity to provide support and advice to independent inventors who make great efforts to protect their innovations.”
Andrés Casas Santofimio, Partner, Casas Santofimio Abogados, Colombia

“There is more happiness in giving than receiving. Providing pro bono assistance to inventors is an enormous help within the legal framework of their innovations, and thus their protection for commercial exploitation.”
Mohamed El Harzli, Professor and industrial property attorney, IP ADVICE & SERVICES, Morocco

“Being an IAP volunteer is important because it allows me to contribute to my country's patent system by providing support or specialized patent legal advice to low-income inventors. On the other hand, I feel that with constant contact with inventors throughout the whole process of obtaining the patent, I gain more experience in dealing with customers. Finally, I consider that being a volunteer lawyer for the IAP can generate new opportunities for personal and professional growth.”
Paola Armutt Villanueva, Patent Attorney, Estudio Muñiz, Peru

“As an inventor myself, I empathize with the needs of fellow inventors concerning intellectual property. Every inventor deserves recognition for their technological contributions, irrespective of their financial situation. As an IAP volunteer, I am committed to offering the guidance and support necessary to bring their ideas to life through a patent application. I am here to advocate for collaboration, urging us to work together to ensure that no innovative mind remains unrecognized.”
Armando R. Reosura, Professor, Carlos Hilado Memorial State University, Philippines

How do I benefit?

You can benefit in different ways, including:

Expand your network: Connect with IP professionals and institutional partners across multiple countries and industries.
Collaborate internationally: Open doors to partnerships that can benefit your practice over the long-term.
Be recognized for your impact: Gain visibility for your efforts to support society. You will be featured on the WIPO website, national resources, and get access to promotional IAP badges.
Enhance your skills: Sharpen your technical and strategic abilities working with diverse inventions across different fields.
Grow your business: IAP beneficiaries who receive quality guidance may become your future paying clients.

What the IAP asks of its volunteers

IAP volunteers provide free legal services to secure patents and expert guidance on their commercialization. They support individuals and small businesses in participating countries who meet local eligibility criteria.

These services may include:

drafting and filing patent applications (national, regional and PCT applications).
managing patent applications and correspondence with patent offices.
providing guidance for commercializing patents filed through the Program:
- early-stage personalized advice to help beneficiaries explore potential commercialization paths; and
- targeted support based on specific business objectives of beneficiaries, such as drafting license agreements, determining royalty rates, or preparing for negotiations.

The precise scope of services depends on your expertise and will be defined case-by-case through a written agreement with the beneficiary. Services should maintain the same quality standards as those you provide to paying clients.

You are also asked to update case status through the IAP Online Platform and encouraged to collaborate with local authorities and WIPO to enhance the Program.

The Program serves only those who cannot afford legal services. Volunteers are not asked to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. Beneficiaries cover official fees and other related costs.

Who can volunteer

The IAP welcomes patent attorneys and agents, patent drafters, patent search specialists, IP commercialization specialists, and other professionals specializing in patents that can assist with securing and commercializing patents, who agree to the IAP Guiding Principles, Structure and Governance and provide their services free of charge.

Currently, the IAP seeks volunteers from participating countries, as well as from countries of the European Patent Convention, and the United States.

To maintain high-quality service, volunteers must have relevant practical experience. Those filing patent applications and prosecuting them must be qualified to practice before the relevant patent offices. Attorneys or agents who can practice in more than one jurisdiction may offer their services in multiple countries.

Volunteers can be part of a law firm, serve an in-house counsel or agent, or practice independently.

You can benefit in different ways, including:

Expand your network: Connect with IP professionals and institutional partners across multiple countries and industries.
Collaborate internationally: Open doors to partnerships that can benefit your practice over the long-term.
Be recognized for your impact: Gain visibility for your efforts to support society. You will be featured on the WIPO website, national resources, and get access to promotional IAP badges.
Enhance your skills: Sharpen your technical and strategic abilities working with diverse inventions across different fields.
Grow your business: IAP beneficiaries who receive quality guidance may become your future paying clients.

These services may include:

drafting and filing patent applications (national, regional and PCT applications).
managing patent applications and correspondence with patent offices.
providing guidance for commercializing patents filed through the Program:
- early-stage personalized advice to help beneficiaries explore potential commercialization paths; and
- targeted support based on specific business objectives of beneficiaries, such as drafting license agreements, determining royalty rates, or preparing for negotiations.

You are also asked to update case status through the IAP Online Platform and encouraged to collaborate with local authorities and WIPO to enhance the Program.

The Program serves only those who cannot afford legal services. Volunteers are not asked to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. Beneficiaries cover official fees and other related costs.

Currently, the IAP seeks volunteers from participating countries, as well as from countries of the European Patent Convention, and the United States.

Volunteers can be part of a law firm, serve an in-house counsel or agent, or practice independently.

How it works for volunteers

Here’s your step-by-step path to making an impact with the IAP:

Step 1: Apply as a volunteer

Complete the application form on the IAP Online Platform, specifying services you would offer to the Program. You will need to create a WIPO Account if you do not already have one.

We will review your application and notify you of your acceptance. Admission to the IAP is based on your qualifications, skills, and experience.

For questions about admission in participating countries, contact your local IAP focal point in your country.

For other jurisdictions, contact WIPO’s IAP team.

Step 2: Confirm match

You will be matched with an eligible inventor based on the support needed, the invention’s technical area, and when possible, location of the inventor.

You will always have an opportunity to review any assigned case to perform a conflict check and confirm your availability before accepting the case.

Step 3: Work together

After confirming the match, we will share your contact details with the inventor. The inventor will reach out to arrange an initial meeting.

We strongly recommend formalizing your professional relationship with the inventor through a written agreement to prevent any misunderstandings. You may use our template or your own agreement.

For more details refer to the IAP Guiding Principles, Structure and Governance.

Meet our volunteers who’ve already helped IAP inventors

Still have questions about how the IAP works?

Check our FAQs

IAP Volunteers

Video: Singapore patent attorneys talk about why they volunteer for the IAP (Courtesy of IPOS)

Why volunteer for the IAP

How do I benefit?

What the IAP asks of its volunteers

Who can volunteer

arrow_right Why volunteer for the IAP

arrow_right How do I benefit?

arrow_right What the IAP asks of its volunteers

arrow_right Who can volunteer

How it works for volunteers

Step 1: Apply as a volunteer

Step 2: Confirm match

Step 3: Work together

Meet our volunteers who’ve already helped IAP inventors

Abdelkader Rbaibi

Naci John C. Trance

Still have questions about how the IAP works?

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