WIPO Director General Daren Tang visited the Swiss capital Bern on April 3, 2025 for a series of bilateral meetings with Government officials.
Mr. Tang met with State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Alexandre Fasel to discuss developments at WIPO, including the recent adoption by member states of two new international treaties. Switzerland played an important role in talks last year to conclude the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge and the Riyadh Design Law Treaty acting as a bridge builder in negotiations and reinforcing its commitment to multilateralism.
Talks, which also included Ambassador Julien Thöni, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Disarmament and Multilateral Affairs at the Swiss Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, also centered on existing bilateral relations between WIPO and Switzerland and how to further strengthen and enhance collaboration.
The Director General congratulated his Swiss hosts on their consistent ranking at the top of WIPO’s Global Innovation Index (GII) over the past 14 years. This success demonstrates how intellectual property (IP) can drive progress across sectors through a robust innovation ecosystem that integrates education, research and strong partnerships.
The conversation also touched on the growing impact of generative AI and other digital technologies on innovation, the challenges and opportunities for international Geneva and concrete areas where WIPO and the Swiss Government could collaborate, including in the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) to ensure that intellectual property supports scientific advancements and helps address global challenges.
In this context, the Director General was invited to participate in the upcoming GESDA Annual Summit, taking place in Geneva from October 15-17, 2025, to highlight the crucial role of IP in addressing pressing global issues such as climate change and advancing scientific progress.
Additionally, during a meeting with Director General Catherine Chammartin, Deputy Director General Felix Addor and the team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI), discussions covered a wide range of topics, including the Lisbon Registry, IP and health, cooperation with other UN agencies and frontier technologies.
The importance of making IP more visible, accessible and understood, particularly for SMEs, women, youth, and local communities, was emphasized as a key driver of economic and social growth worldwide. Both parties agreed that there is still work to be done in supporting countries in boosting their economic development and fostering sustainable growth.
Mr. Tang also expressed his appreciation for Switzerland's continued engagement in WIPO GREEN and welcomed further opportunities to strengthen cooperation on sustainable development initiatives. Swiss Government officials reaffirmed their support for WIPO’s efforts to extend the IP system’s benefits through impactful, concrete projects.
The Director General commended the valuable work of the IPI and support provided by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in implementing cooperation projects across various partner countries.
Looking ahead, both parties agreed to continue strengthening their collaboration to expand IP's role as a catalyst for growth and development for all countries.