August 31, 2023
The fourth Trilateral Cooperation webinar, jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), WIPO, and World Trade Organization (WTO) on June 27, 2023, centered discussions on technology transfer applied to COVID-19 health technologies in developing countries. Divided into two sessions, the webinar engaged over 200 participants, focusing on practical experiences and best practices in technology transfer. Four teams of technology providers and recipients from around the globe shared insights, emphasizing licensing mechanisms to enable local production of COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. The webinar aimed to enhance policymakers' grasp of technology transfer, explore the role of intellectual property therein, and provide a platform for experience sharing.
The webinar also delved into financial mechanisms for health technology transfer, such as government funding, donor support, and public-private partnerships. Antony Taubman, Director, Intellectual Property Division, WTO stressed the importance of understanding technology transfer's practical dimension for diverse production facilities. Erika Duenas, Technical Officer, Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, WHO underscored the necessity of accessible and affordable health technologies and highlighted the importance of local production capacity to achieve this. Concluding the webinar, Amy Dietterich, Director, Global Challenges Division, WIPO acknowledged heightened interest in technology transfer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the collaborative and practical nature of the process to achieve global health goals.
Please find the video of the workshop, program and speakers’ biographies.
For more information on the webinar, read the article from WTO.