The Dominican Republic has officially launched its National Intellectual Property Strategy Towards 2030, a roadmap designed to help innovators, creators, researchers and businesses turn ideas into economic opportunities and drive sustainable growth.
Developed through a year-long collaboration between the Dominican Republic and WIPO, the strategy responds to the need for a more strategic, coordinated approach to ensuring that IP works effectively for development.
A national IP strategy is a set of policy measures formulated and implemented by a government to improve its intellectual property (IP) and innovation ecosystem in line with social, cultural and economic development goals. It is cross-cutting by nature: it links IP with a wide range of public policy areas to enhance coherence and coordination in government law and policymaking.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) coordinated the strategy development process, drawing on inputs across the country’s IP, innovation and creative ecosystems. WIPO supported the process through methodological guidance, technical expertise, review of draft versions of the strategy, and ensuring the final document reflects national priorities. The development followed the WIPO Methodology for the Development of National Intellectual Property Strategies.
WIPO’s contribution combined process facilitation with specialized technical expertise across multiple IP areas, including industrial property, copyright and related rights, plant variety protection, IP enforcement, IP commercialization, and support for SMEs and innovation ecosystems.
As a result of this collaborative process, the Dominican Republic now has a nationally- owned, evidence-based and action-oriented strategy that provides a common roadmap for using IP strategically to:
- help entrepreneurs and SMEs protect and commercialize their innovations and brands;
- enable researchers and universities to transfer technology and bring inventions to market;
- support creators and cultural industries effectively monetize their works and expand into international markets; and
- strengthen coordination among public institutions in IP policy, enforcement and support services across sectors.
Together, these efforts aim to drive innovation, creativity, competitiveness and sustainable economic growth through 2030.
A celebration of collaboration and commitment
The National IP Strategy launch ceremony brought together government leaders, IP institutions, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders of the creative and innovation ecosystem, including institutions from culture, film, universities and technical training, digital transformation and telecommunications, and key productive sectors such as agriculture, tourism and export development - reflecting broad national ownership of the Strategy.
The Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, described the Strategy as “a model of public-private collaboration” that positions the Dominican Republic as an attractive destination for foreign investment, while enabling growth across diverse sectors including industry, tourism, culture, agriculture, research and development, and culinary arts.
WIPO Assistant Director General, Mr. Marco M. Alemán, participated in the ceremony and welcomed the adoption of the Strategy. He highlighted the importance of seamless interinstitutional coordination, resource allocation, continuous technical capacity building and rigorous monitoring mechanisms to support implementation and achieve measurable results. He reaffirmed WIPO stands ready to support this implementation journey.
ADG Alemán also acknowledged the leadership of the MICM and the institutional commitment of the National Industrial Property Office (ONAPI), the National Copyright Office (ONDA), and the Office of Variety Registration and Protection of Plant Breeders' Rights (OREVADO), as well as the role of technical experts, Ms. Astrid Weiler and Ms. Ayalivis García, and national stakeholders involved throughout the process.
From registration to revenue: activating IP for economic growth
Following the formal presentation of the Strategy, a panel discussion explored how the Strategy promotes a shift from a focus on IP registration and protection toward the effective use and commercialization of IP, turning rights into revenue through licensing, partnerships, exports, and investment.
In practical terms, this includes:
- supporting universities and research institutions license patents and create spin off companies through technology transfer offices;
- helping SMEs and entrepreneurs transform their IP into marketable products, brands and franchises;
- enabling the commercialization of creative works through licensing and export of audiovisual and digital content;
- promoting platforms and business rounds to connect IP owners with investors and partners; and
- strengthening the use of geographical indications and national brands to add value to agricultural and local products in domestic and international markets.
ONAPI showcased new entrepreneurial tools and pathways for commercializing university research. ONDA highlighted the creative economy’s potential to generate sustainable income for artists and cultural producers. The Attorney General's Office outlined enhanced enforcement mechanisms. Private sector representatives emphasized the urgent need to raise IP awareness among SMEs, the backbone of the Dominican economy.
Each institution articulated concrete 2030 commitments, pledging to transform intangible assets into drivers of sustainable and inclusive growth.
From strategy development to implementation: WIPO’s continued partnership
Following the launch, discussions between WIPO and key institutions focused on practical Strategy implementation support in areas such as institutional strengthening, capacity-building programs, IP commercialization and financing mechanisms, enforcement coordination, strengthening the judiciary and governance structures to ensure accountability and results.
The strategy development process also contributed to strengthening coordination among national IP institutions and establishing a shared framework for aligning future actions, resources and responsibilities. Maintaining this coordination will be critical to translating strategic objectives into measurable results for innovators, creators, businesses and public institutions.
Background to WIPO’s technical assistance in developing National IP or Innovation Strategies
The Dominican Republic’s experience illustrates the value of a structured, evidence-based and inclusive approach to national IP strategy development.
WIPO’s assistance spans the full policy cycle — from comprehensive diagnostic assessments of national creative and innovation ecosystems to strategy design, stakeholder consultation, strategy validation, and implementation planning. This support is country-led, with national authorities retaining ownership, while WIPO contributes methodology, strategic guidance and technical expertise.
Building on this experience, WIPO continues to provide tailored support to Member States seeking to develop or update national IP or innovation strategies, adapting its assistance to each country’s specific context and priorities.