The WIPO Global Awards × GBSN Business Acceleration Showcase is a program WIPO runs with the Global Business School Network (GBSN), a global network of business schools. Through it, experienced graduate students and entrepreneurs in residence from member schools take on a WIPO Global Awards winner's business as an action learning case. MIT Sloan School of Management, a GBSN member, was the first to take up the opportunity, and PhageLab, a WIPO Global Awards 2025 winner, was the first company to benefit.
PhageLab, based in Chile, gives farmers a natural alternative to antibiotics. It uses bacteriophages, harmless viruses that attack specific harmful bacteria, to treat infections in farm animals such as poultry and cattle. Its AI system designs a custom treatment for each outbreak in about 45 days.
MIT Sloan ran the project through its action learning program. Three participants worked remotely with PhageLab over several weeks, then spent a dedicated week on site at its headquarters in Santiago. Their work examined the company's market potential, a technology assessment and intellectual property questions including freedom to operate, with recommendations on AI strategy, finance and organization, and an R&D roadmap.
The engagement serves each side. The MIT Sloan participants gained applied experience and direct exposure to how intellectual property shapes business strategy. PhageLab received an external strategic review from a team with relevant industry background. For WIPO, the collaboration connects winners with recognized business schools beyond the IP field, brings IP into the work of future business leaders, and broadens the pool of startups and SMEs that engage with the Awards.
We congratulate PhageLab and thank MIT Sloan and GBSN for this first collaboration, and look forward to extending the showcase to more winners and more schools.