A global competency-based certification program is transforming the way Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) serve their communities – providing a systematic way for TISC staff to develop and gain recognition for their knowledge and skills. The TISC Staff Certification Program offers IP professionals a clear pathway for gaining essential skill sets and competencies to provide innovation support services, certified by experts in TISC training and management.
"This certification program will bring some level of confidence and get people attracted to the idea of becoming an IP professional. Things will not be done the way they have been done before. This one is going to be a game-changer.”
– Eng. Benson Kamau Kariuki, Certified TISC Staff, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
Strategic fit: a WIPO-branded solution for a WIPO-built network
The TISC Staff Certification Program is structured in two levels: a Foundation level aligned with the core services expected to be delivered by all TISCs and Specialization levels corresponding to different additional services that may be delivered by TISCs according to the specific context of each TISC or national TISC network.
TISC staff aspiring to be certified in these levels are required to complete two training components based on a blended learning approach: a self-paced, distance learning course with expert-produced content and instructor-led training seminars with interactive peer learning. They must successfully complete assessments after each training component as well as a summative assessment. TISC staff completing these requirements receive a certificate verifiable digitally on the WIPO website using a QR code, recognizing them as “Certified TISC Staff" (for those passing the Foundation level) or as “Certified TISC Specialists” in a designated knowledge area (for those passing Specialization levels).
Training and assessment components are designed around a structured TISC competency framework adapted to the specific context in which TISCs operate and the knowledge and skills required to effectively deliver high-quality services. TISC competencies represent technical knowledge and demonstrable skills required to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to TISC staff and underpin the content included in the distance learning courses and instructor-led training seminars, and validated in the assessments.
Three audiences, one standard: a program with triple impact
The TISC Staff Certification Program offers a range of benefits:
For TISC staff, it offers a structured professional development path that affirms their expertise and opens doors to future opportunities.
For TISC host institutions, it provides a standard for recruitment and onboarding, professionalizes internal operations, and promotes retention and development of highly skilled TISC staff.
For TISC clients, it signals service excellence – reliable, knowledgeable support with verifiable competencies.
“Successfully passing the rigorous certification exam and becoming a certified TISC staff member is a great honor. It represents not only a personal achievement but also a commitment to upholding the highest standards in the services we offer. I see this certification as a responsibility – a pledge to continuously improve the quality of our work within the organization and to ensure that the community receives the top-tier services they deserve.”
– Mr. Frenz Rian Gal, Certified TISC Staff, Guimaras State University, Philippines
From blueprint to breakthrough: the TISC Staff Certification pilot launch
TISC Staff Certification was launched on a pilot basis in late 2023 and implemented in 2024 together with the national TISC networks of China, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru, Philippines and Saudi Arabia, building on the results of an expert feasibility study carried out in 2019, stakeholder consultations held in 2020, and an extensive process of curriculum, content and infrastructure development completed in 2022.
The pilot was initially carried out for the Foundation level and provided an opportunity to test training and assessment components and infrastructure for TISC Staff Certification with national TISC focal points and TISC staff, enabling these to be better adapted to the situation and needs of their intended audience.
TISC Staff Certification Program Development timeline
The pilot led to a number of important infrastructure innovations including:
Member States Ed-Tech Services (MSES) – TISC module: This module provides the certification team with a centralized online interface for administering registered TISC host institutions and TISC focal points facilitating program rollout, enrollment processes and customer service.
Streamlined registration with one-click nomination: A new digital pathway enables national TISC focal points to nominate eligible participants through a single authorization action, minimizing administrative burden and accelerating program access.
National TISC focal points were closely involved in the design, development and testing of training and assessment components and infrastructure, and feedback from TISC staff was collected to ensure that TISC Staff Certification is optimized to their situation and needs.
“It’s a very well-thought-out course that touches on the very function (of) a TISC staff. It should be a recommendation that institutions can think of ensuring that when they put staff in the TISC they try to get them to first go through this course. It will give them (the TISC staff) the skills and the knowledge to be able to serve effectively. They should take it as soon as possible because it will make the whole difference. My main objectives were to get the knowledge and skills that I need to carry out my duties at the TISC office. Were they met? They were surpassed!”
– Dr. Zipporah Muthui, Certified TISC Staff, Chuka University, Kenya
Proof of concept, powerfully delivered
The results of the pilot demonstrated the importance and effectiveness of TISC Staff Certification as a program as well as the high level of competency already achieved by many TISC staff. Participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with respect to the course structure and design, course content (including its practical relevance to their daily work), trainers and learning platform, and noted the success of the learning components in developing their knowledge and skills thought provoking.
Next steps: global launch, specialization tracks, multimedia content, and infrastructure development
With the success of the pilot run in 2024, the WIPO TISC Staff Certification Program transitioned from a long-standing ambition into a professionalized standard, setting the stage for its global rollout in 2025 and adaptation into additional UN languages in 2026.
The first TISC Specialization Certification in Patentability/Novelty Search is in the development pipeline, designed to deepen the search skills of those who already hold the Foundation credential. Other specialization tracks, such as State-of-the-Art Search, Freedom to Operate (FTO) Search and Patent Analytics, are under consultation and will evolve with TISC needs and demands, and in alignment with the TISC competency framework.
A series of modular video tutorials in bite-sized chapters will be produced to reinforce the blended learning approach integrated into TISC Staff Certification. These tutorials will serve as complementary resources to the live training seminars, extending access to quality instruction even in bandwidth-constrained environments.
New infrastructure is under development to reinforce standardized testing and scale future certification offerings. This infrastructure includes a questions databank and competency-based assessment generation module, powering future automated, randomized assessments based on the TISC competency framework and aimed at assuring program integrity, scalability and sustainability.