WIPO organized the Regional Forum on IP for Young Designers, with support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from September 23 to 24, 2025, bringing together students and professors from six universities across Latin America.
Expanding Regional Impact Through Creative Innovation
From October 2022 to September 2023, WIPO successfully implemented a pilot initiative in Brazil and Chile to cultivate intellectual property skills among emerging designers.
Given the compelling outcomes of this pilot phase, the program was strategically expanded in 2024 to encompass universities in the Amazon region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. To consolidate these achievements and enhance scalability, the forum gathered students, professors, and experts from the six participating universities:
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) – Brazil
- State University of Pará (UEPA) – Brazil
- Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) – Brazil
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) – Chile
- Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) – Paraguay
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) – Peru
The forum was designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, evaluate the initiative's impact and methodology, and formulate strategic approaches to ensure the sustainability and regional proliferation of this program throughout Latin America.
Bridging Tradition and Innovation Through Design
The project's innovative approach combines traditional IP training with hands-on problem-solving, enabling young designers to develop market-oriented solutions for products protected by geographical indications and collective marks. Ms. Beatriz Amorim-Borher, Senior Director, DDC, WIPO, highlighted the program's remarkable achievements: 210 students trained in IP, 1 online course and 3 training toolkits developed, plus 41 industrial design applications filed (19 granted).
Other opening speakers, Ms. Hulda Oliveira Giesbrecht, Coordinator of Emerging Technologies, Innovation Unit, Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE), Mr. Alexandre Lopes Lourenço, Director of Administration, National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Mr. Ayato Sakaki, Consul, Economic Section, Consulate General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, celebrated these achievements.
Student testimonials reflected the program's transformative impact. "For me, the project on IP for young designers has been the most important experience in my whole career," shared Ms. Antonia Jaramillo, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
The Forum used interactive methods to engage participants, including workshops where they brainstormed and developed ideas together, exercises to map out challenges and opportunities, and structured group discussions to share experiences and insights. Participants engaged in structured co-creation activities using visual mapping platforms, allowing them to share insights and develop actionable recommendations for project replication and expansion across Latin America.
Building Regional Networks for Lasting Impact
The Forum successfully established a regional network connecting project beneficiaries across universities and countries, ensuring continued collaboration and peer support beyond the event. Participants developed comprehensive strategies for scaling the initiative regionally while preserving its focus on connecting creativity with cultural heritage and community identity.
This Forum represents WIPO's continued commitment to making intellectual property accessible and practical for emerging creative professionals, demonstrating how strategic education partnerships can bridge academia and local communities while empowering young designers to innovate with purpose across Latin America and the Caribbean.