Advancing Women and IP: A Spotlight Series on Initiatives for Innovation and Success
Mentoring is important for advancing women’s participation and leadership in innovation and intellectual property (IP). With access to experienced guidance, women are better equipped to overcome barriers, register and leverage their IP for their own benefit, build confidence, and develop key entrepreneurial skills. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is advancing women’s participation in innovation and IP by integrating mentoring and matchmaking into its programs and projects.
Through flexible models, from short “speed mentoring” sessions to structured mentorships lasting up to a year, WIPO connects women innovators with IP experts, business coaches, and market specialists matched to their needs. One longer-term mentorship example is the WIPO Training, Mentoring and Matchmaking Program for Women Entrepreneurs from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (WEP), which supports women working with traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions through training in intellectual property and business management, as well as year-long mentorship to support the implementation of their IP and business strategies. The Program also provides a space for continued engagement beyond its formal duration. WIPO has also delivered targeted coaching for women in agribusiness in Africa, intensive one-on-one mentoring on IP-based business models in countries such as Indonesia and Viet Nam, and STEM-focused IP management programs in Latin America.
In partnership with organizations such as the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades initiatve and the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) e-trade for Women program, WIPO has further provided personalized IP filing advice, networking opportunities, and market access mentoring, helping women protect their brands, commercialize innovations, and gain international visibility. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how WIPO uses mentorship not only to build IP capacity, but to create real pathways for women innovators to scale their ideas and lead within the global innovation ecosystem.
Austrian Patent Office Offers a “Buddy for Her” to Support Women Inventors in Patenting
Austria has taken targeted action to address the persistent gender gap in inventive activity through “Buddy for Her,” a dedicated mentoring and information service launched by the Austrian Patent Office. With women accounting for only 8% of inventors in Austria, the initiative was designed as a low-threshold, free service specifically aimed at women innovators and potential filers. Offered in both German and English, Buddy for Her provides early-stage guidance on patents, trademarks, and designs, allowing all questions and focusing on accessibility, confidence-building, and encouragement at the beginning of the IP journey.
The initiative connects participants to a wide range of IP services, pricing information, technical support, and external knowledge resources. The service aims to encourage, inspire, and build confidence among women users. Since its launch in late 2023, Buddy for Her has shown growing uptake, with a steady increase in consultation requests in 2024, and in 2025 the number of users doubled compared to 2024. Participants have praised the service for its particular value to women balancing professional and family responsibilities, highlighting the importance of personalized, woman-to-woman support. One participant noted, “Buddy for Her saves a lot of time, especially for young mothers with double the workload, as it provides a first step or guidance in the right direction”.
Buddy for Her continues to empower women innovators through personalized guidance, practical resources, and a supportive community, helping them confidently navigate IP challenges and achieve their goals.