On March 19, 2025, WIPO Japan Office organized the second WIPO GREEN Partner Networking Event under the auspices of Japan Patent Office (JPO), Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) and Japan Institute for Promoting Invention and Innovation (JIPII).
The purpose of this event is to invite Japanese partners, the largest number of partners by country in the world, to discuss the acceleration of open innovation in environmental technology through WIPO GREEN, and to share information among them. This event was held with the financial support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).
Scene of the Venue
The event began with opening remarks by Mr. Tomoki SAWAI, Director of WIPO Japan Office, who stated, "I aspire for this platform to become a “crossing point” that promotes open innovation in environmental technology, facilitating collaboration across industries and sectors”. This was followed by a guest speech from Mr. Yota ONO, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), who shared his insights on JPO’s continuous support for the crucial challenge of understanding the intersection between patents and business and advancing the implementation of GX technologies. Mr. Yoshiyuki IWAI, Chairman of Japan Institute for Promoting Invention and Innovation (JIPII) also delivered a message emphasizing "It is crucial to serve as an 'interpreter' that effectively connects genuine needs with technology. We remain committed to working together to develop a licensing business that generates tangible benefits”. Furthermore, Mr. Masafumi YAMAMOTO, Senior Associate Officer at Daikin Industries, Ltd., serving as the Japan Ambassador of WIPO GREEN gave a representative address stating “I am deeply honored to be appointed as a WIPO GREEN Ambassador by Director Mr. Daren Tang. I will strive to achieve successful matching of needs and seeds in addressing environmental issues. It is crucial to understand global needs and for partners to effectively showcase and communicate their technologies through "Show and Tell."
In addition, as a report from WIPO, Ms. Shiho Nagano, Senior Program Officer, WIPO International Secretariat, introduced the specifics of the WIPO GREEN Acceleration Project, this year's plan, mutual understanding with partners, and The Green Technology Book. Then, Mr. Yosuke Matsubara, Counsellor, WIPO Japan Office, reported on the environmental technology needs assessment project of the WIPO GREEN database and introduced the needs of attention.
The event continued with insightful presentations from industry and academic leader. Mr. Tomonori BEKKU, SDGs Working Leader of JIPA, provided a discussion on “Efforts to revitalize WIPO GREEN”, followed by Mr. Noriyuki KOZAKAI, Head of Sustainability Promotion Office, Sumitomo Osaka Cement Company, Ltd., who spoke on “The Significance of Participating in WIPO GREEN from the Perspective of the NEDO Green Innovation Fund”. Ms. Kyoko FUJIWARA, Head of Intellectual Properties Office, Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., shared her perspective on “Sustainability Initiatives and Expectations for WIPO GREEN”. Mr. Isamu WATANABE, Specially Appointed Professor, Tohoku University concluded the session with a compelling speech on “Green Innovation and IP Consulting at Tohoku University in Collaboration with Industry and University”.
In the latter half of the program, representatives from all participating organizations introduced their initiatives and engaged in a dynamic open discussion, sharing their requests and feedback for WIPO GREEN.
The event concluded with a highly successful reception, where participants had the opportunity to network freely. This informal gathering provided a valuable platform for diverse stakeholders interested in WIPO GREEN to engage in direct dialogue and explore new possibilities for collaboration.
A total of 70 participants, both on-site and online, took part in this event, which served as a key opportunity for WIPO GREEN partners in Japan to connect and strengthen their network. The importance of continuing this program as a forum for networking and knowledge exchange was reaffirmed.
Participants emphasized the vital role of the WIPO GREEN Platform and strategic partnerships in advancing a sustainable society, highlighting the need to further facilitate the matching of technology providers ("seeds") with technology seekers ("needs"). In the post-event questionnaire, 94% of the participants gave a positive evaluation of the event, and 98% of them expressed their desire to participate in the next similar meeting.
WIPO Japan Office will continue to work closely with WIPO GREEN partners to create successful cases of matching and technology transfer through WIPO GREEN and promote further efforts.
Guest speech from Mr. Yota ONO, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO)
WIPO GREEN, an initiative to address environmental issues such as global warming, was proposed by Japanese industry and is one of the main measures of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). WIPO Japan Office is working to achieve the SDGs by actively promoting WIPO GREEN to Japanese users and encouraging their participation.
WIPO GREEN's database contains information on over 130,000 environmental technologies and needs requiring environmental technology from around the world. In addition, 157 organizations from around the world participate as WIPO GREEN Partners to strategically support WIPO GREEN (as of February 2025). From Japan, Japan Patent Office, Japan Intellectual Property Association, and other public institutions, organizations, and companies are participating as partners. In recent years, participation from academia has increased, with 52WIPO GREEN partners participating in Japan (as of February 2025), the largest number of WIPO GREEN partners by country in the world.
As a “missionary” of intellectual property, the WIPO Japan Office will work to promote and raise awareness of WIPO measures, including WIPO GREEN, in cooperation with relevant organizations throughout Japan.