WIPO engaged with inventors from around the world during the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, held from March 11-15, 2026.
During the five-day event, WIPO specialists provided consultations on the Organization’s global intellectual property (IP) systems and presented a WIPO Award celebrating exceptional contributions to local economic and technological development.
Connecting inventors with IP expertise
Inventors, entrepreneurs and researchers from across the globe visited the WIPO stand at the 2026 International Exhibition of Inventions to explore how to protect their innovations internationally. WIPO experts were on hand to offer information on WIPO’s global IP systems—the PCT System for patents, the Madrid System for trademarks, and the Hague System for industrial designs—as well as its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services.
Visitors also took advantage of dedicated one-on-one IP clinics, where WIPO specialists answered practical questions about international protection options and the costs and timelines associated with expanding IP protection to multiple markets using WIPO’s IP services.
Supporting innovators at every stage
Among the many exhibitors were early-stage innovators, startups, and researchers making use of the PCT System to expand their inventions internationally.
Featured prominently at the event was Swiss carmaker Softcar, whose unique product and business model shows how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. Founded by visionary CEO Jean-Luc Thuliez, the company has developed a lightweight electric vehicle designed around circular-economy principles: recyclability, low environmental impact and local production.
Softcar’s use of the PCT System also illustrates how innovators developing new industrial solutions can pursue international patent protection while building a distinctive business model that aligns with growing global demand for sustainable transportation and production.
Also present were Pai Liu and Binghe Wang, who showcased the Georgia State University Research Foundation’s innovative therapeutic carbon monoxide (CO)-based technology. The invention centres on delivering safe, pharmaceutically acceptable CO prodrugs designed to release CO in a controlled way, in response to different biological triggers. Potential applications for the technology include cancer treatment and other inflammation-related conditions.
Protected in part through several PCT applications, the technology highlights how the international patent system can support cutting-edge life sciences research at an early stage, creating a pathway for critical inventions to move from success in the laboratory towards real-world impact.
Celebrating innovation: the WIPO Award
As part of the exhibition’s awards programme, Marcelo Di Pietro Peralta, Director of WIPO Awards, presented the WIPO Prize. The award recognizes an inventor whose work is making an important contribution to economic and technological development.
This year’s prize went to MTR Corporation Limited of Hong Kong, China, for their Accoustic GearGuard – an Al-enhanced acoustic platform for monitoring railway running gear. Using sound monitoring and AI-supported analysis, the technology is designed to detect faults, assess component health and support predictive maintenance for railway running gear.
The invention reflects how AI is increasingly being leveraged to support advancements in transport infrastructure, where earlier detection and smarter maintenance can significantly improve service reliability and reduce operational disruption.
A global platform for innovation
With over 1,000 inventions from 35 countries and regions at this year’s event alone, the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading platforms for showcasing new technologies and creative solutions.
By participating in the exhibition each year, WIPO provides inventors and entrepreneurs with direct access to resources and information on international IP protection, helping them safely bring their ideas to market across the globe.
Learn more about the Exhibition.
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