The Cross-Regional Forum on IP and Women in Entrepreneurship was successfully held in Cairo, Egypt from October 8 to 9, 2025, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA) and the National Council for Women (NCW), with support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global.
The Forum brought together 23 women entrepreneurs from 14 countries across the Arab and Asian regions to share experiences and best practices, empower effective IP utilization, and enhance entrepreneurial skills through hands-on training.
The Forum marked a significant milestone with the global launch of WIPO's "IP for Her" platform, which is funded by FIT Japan Industrial Property Global. This dedicated space is designed to empower women entrepreneurs who have benefited from WIPO's support programs, enabling them to connect, exchange experiences, and strategically leverage intellectual property for business growth.
Mr. Ryo Nitta, Director for International Intellectual Property Policy Planning at the Japan Patent Office; Ms. Beatriz Amorim-Borher, Senior Director, WIPO; Ambassador Amira Fahmy from Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women; and Dr. Hisham Azmi, Chairman of EGIPA delivered the welcoming remarks at the Forum.
From ideas to investment: Cross-regional success stories
Participants shared their success stories and journeys of transforming concepts into viable businesses, discussed challenges in accessing investment and IP's crucial role in supporting sustainable business growth.
The Forum included interactive learning sessions such as:
- IP self-assessments
- Workshops on "Protecting What You Build – Pitching for Social Media,"
- Building a digital presence and the importance of personal branding for entrepreneurs, and
- Collaborative exercises where participants practiced concise business pitches and received feedback on delivery and messaging.
Transformative outcomes and future commitments
The Forum generated significant insights and practical lessons for advancing women's participation in innovation and intellectual property. Key outcomes included strengthened understanding of IP as a critical enabler for women entrepreneurs, successful cross-regional learning exchanges, enhanced build leadership capacity, and the milestone launch of the IP for Her platform.
Participants expressed profound appreciation for the collaborative approach and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting women's participation in innovation. The Forum concluded with celebrations honoring the diversity and solidarity among women innovators from across Arab and Asian regions.
The participant’s testimonial reflected the program's transformative impact.
“While women's participation in IP systems remains low worldwide, this initiative represents hope, scale our enterprises, and compete in global markets. As a beneficiary of WIPO's programs, I return home energized with practical knowledge and global connections. I commit to sharing these insights with our network of women entrepreneurs across Nepal”
- Ms. Anuja Rajbhandari Shrestha, Cofounder, Ekadesma, Nepal