CDIP/30/ 2 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH DATE: FEBRUARY 1 7, 2023 Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) Thirtieth Session Geneva, April 24 to 28, 2023 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA prepared by the Secreta riat 1. The present document contains the Director General’s report on the implementation of the Development Agenda (DA) for the year 2022. This is the thirteenth such report , which provides an overview of the activities undertaken by WIPO for the implementation of the DA and its mainstreaming across relevant programs of the Organization. 2. Following the new structure introduced at the twenty -eighth session of the CDIP, t he report portrays the implementation and mainstreaming of the DA , clustered under main ar eas of work of each WIPO Sector : Regional and National Development; Patents and Technology; Brands and Designs; Copyright and Creative Industries; Infrastructure and Platforms; Global Challenges and Partnerships; IP and Innovation Ecosystems; and Ad ministration, Finance and Management . Each part of the report provides a general overview of the Sector’s work linked to IP and development, provides an update on the work of the relevant WIPO Bodies, as well as an overview of the ongoing and mainstreamed DA projects under those areas of work . 3. The report also responds to the Com mittee’s request to link the DA Recommendations to Expected Results, and present them in Annex I of the DG’s annual report on the implementation of the DA, as reflected in paragraph 8.3 of the Summary by the Chair of the twenty -second session. The Annex II presents a list of DA p rojects as of 2022 . INTRODUCTION 4. Since its adoption, the DA has served as a guide for the Organization to ensure that development considerations form an in tegral part of its work, triggering an ongoing process of CDIP/30/2 page 2 mainstreaming the development dimension in the programs and activities of the Organization. As a result, development has become a cornerstone for WIPO. Underlying the DA is the notion that words and intentions need to be translated into action on the ground, guided by Member States. The WIPO’s current Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2022 – 20261 further strengthened the DA by placing an even greater focus on development and creation of real impa ct through close collaboration with Member States. 5. During the reporting period, the Organization successfully reinforced its internal coordination and continued to leverage synergies across WIPO Sectors. Such an approach allowed to build on the areas of traditional strengths of the Organization and to engage much more widely, with an increased focus on small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs), Women and Youth. The Organization continued its work with key partners and stakeholders to address current challenges, including close engagement with Member States to provide targeted and customized support to their post -COVID economic recovery efforts . I. REGIONAL AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR 6. The Regional and National Development Sector (RNDS) continued to act as the Organization’s gateway for Member States in their endeavor to use IP for development. The Sector maintained its global reach and active engagement with Member States through the Regional Divisions ,2 External Offices3 and WIPO Academy. Moreover, dur ing the reporting period, steps were taken to expand the range of stakeholders that the Sector engages with, as well as to ensure that the Organization’s development cooperation responds to specific needs of Member States . The Sector’s restructuring, which entailed the establishment of the RNDS Projects team, was carried out with a view to implementing IP -related urgent strategic cooperation initiatives in WIPO Member States. This has allowed for greater internal collaboration and as a result, the Sector is able to deliver concrete outcomes and maximize the developmental impact of its initiatives on the ground in a timely manner. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDI NG 7. The Sector’s technical assistance and capacity building continued to respond to the DA Recommendations. Demand- driven and development -oriented, these initiatives included the delivery of training and building of skills on IP, awareness -raising, facilitation of policy dialogues, development of national IP strategies and legislative assista nce, covering a wide range of IP fields. As COVID -19 restrictions gradually eased up, the implementation of activities and projects started to return to their normal rhythm of engagement . In addition, the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned fro m the delivery of technical assistance in times of COVID allowed the Organization to upscale its digital solutions and increase the reach of its activities. A few e xampl es of such activities are: (i) Regional Meeting for East African Community) on Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Start -Ups;4 (ii) WIPO – League of Arab States (LAS) Regional Meeting on IP, Innovation Incubators and Techno Parks ;5 (iii) Remote Mentorship Program for Technology Transfer Offices and Research I nstitutions in Asia and the Pacific ;6 (iv) IV Regional Meeting and Forum on IP, Innovation and Gender Equality for Latin American 1 The Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2022 – 2026 is available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=541373 2 Division fo r Africa , Division for Least -Developed Countries , Division for Arab Countries , Division for Asia and the Pacific , Division for Latin America and the Caribbean, Division for Transiti on and Developed Countries. 3 WIPO has External Offices in Algeria, Brazil, China, Japan, Nigeria, the Russian Federation and Singapore. 4 More information can be found at: www.wipo.int/tad/en/activitydetails.jsp?id=25842 5 The details are available at: www.wipo.int/technology -transfer/en/news/2022/news_0004.html 6 Namely, in Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam under the Enabling Innovation Environment (EIE) Project for IP and Technology , with support from the Japan Patent Office . Further information can be found at: www.wipo.int/cooperation/en/f unds_in_trust/japan_fitip_global/news/2022/news_0009.html CDIP/30/2 page 3 countries in Chile;7 as well as (v) Regional Hybrid Workshop on Leveling UP your IP: Strategies for Videogame Developers for Central European and Balti c States and Mediterranean Countries .8 8. The Organization continued to provide tailored support measures to assist Member States in addressing the challenges caused by the pandemic and supporting their recovery efforts. For this purpose, an amount of 3 mi llion Swiss francs was dedic ated for the 2022/23 biennium. Briefing sessions under the response package were held for Member States to provide information about the planned and ongoing WIPO activities under the response package and how to access such supp ort.9 In addition, the WIPO Academy organized training of trainer s modules on IP and public health via the network of IP Training Institutions. Particular emphasis was put on supporting the private sector in their economic recovery. H elp was provided to IP Offices to offer post-COVID economic recovery training for SMEs and entrepreneurs by developing tailored training programs and related resources, as well as Executive Programs were offered in partnership with selected universities with a focus on techn ology transfer skills for the private sector. 9. To contribute to the relevant goals set in the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed C ountries (LDCs) for the Decade 2022- 2031,10 the Organization embarked on the implementation of the “WIPO Deliver ables for the LDCs for 2022- 2031” initiative .11 The overall objective of the initiative is to provide focused, needs -based and impact -driven assistance and support for LDCs in using IP as a tool for growth and development. The year 2022 also marked the launch of the WIPO’s Graduation Support Package for LDCs ,12 in response to the requests of the LDC Member States, and to the call made in the Doha Programme of Action for enhanced international support measures to graduating and graduated LDCs. The aim of this initiative is to provide targeted IP -related technical assistance to LDCs to support their preparation for graduation. Specifically, it aims at assisting in developing and upgrading their national IP systems to meet IP -related obligations after graduat ion, as well as exploiting IP and innovation for attaining graduation goals relating to structural transformation, enhancing productive capacity, economic competitiveness and diversification. As of the end of 2022, WIPO received requests for IP -related technical assistance from Angola, Lao People’ s Democratic Republic and São Tomé and Príncipe. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE BUILDING 10. The WIPO Academy continued to increase the range, reach and accessibility of the courses it provides and supports, bearing in mind a f air geographical balance in its deployment of resources . Specifically, a total of 383 courses in up to 16 languages13 were offered, and conducted by 368 tutors. In so doing, t he number of people benefitting from the Academy’s Distance Learning (DL) Program reached 101,457 in 2022, which represents the third consecutive year of more than 100,000 enrolments. The catalogue of DL courses was further expanded to introduce more specialized certification and executive courses focus ed on IP skill 7 The Meeting was attended by the Directors of 11 Latin American Industrial Property Offices. UN Women and a regional gender expert also participated in the session. 8 More information can be fou nd at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=72351 9 WIPO’s COVID -19 Related Services and Support can be accessed at: w ww.wipo.int/covid -19/en/ 10 The new Doha Programme of Action acknowledges the critical importance of science, technology and innovation, including inclusive and enabling innovation ecosystems, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It contains more specific targets and actions relating to IP , innovation and creativity. 11 The WIPO deliverables were considered and adopted by the LDC Member States at WIPO Pre-Conference Forum, held in Geneva on December 13 to 14, 2021, in preparation for the Fifth U N Conference on the LDCs, and is available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=563348 12 The package is available at: www.un.org/ldcportal/content/wipos -graduation-support -package-
ldcs#:~:text=Launched%20in%20July%202022%2C%20the,to%20graduating%20and%20graduated%20LDCs 13 The six official languages of the United Nations and ten additional languages. CDIP/30/2 page 4 development for Member S tates, the private sector /SMEs, as well as training needs of WIPO Sectors . Examples of such courses included: (i) International Patent Drafting Training Program (IPDTP) ;14 (ii) Specialized Course on Developing Successful Development Agenda Projec ts (DL-620);15 (iii) WIPO Connect Training (DL-550) for Collective Management Organizations (CMOs);16 and (iv) revamped IP Panorama 2.0 , which focuses on the topics of IP commercialization and IP as a collateral, by providing practical guidance for SME’s on how to take innovations and inventions to the market .17 The Academy responded to continued demand for adaptation of its entry -level and youth- focused learning tools to national target audiences , building on new and existing agreements for customization w ith 14 IP Offices .18 Under the Professional Development Program (PDP) of the WIPO Academy, 242 government officials from developing countries, countries in transition and LDCs benefitted from advanced courses, offered online or in a hybrid format19 by the A cademy jointly with its partner institutions. With the new format of the PDP curriculum based on skills -development,20 government officials undertook research for 16 weeks on specific topics of interest for their respective national Offices to produce a total of 206 projects, which were implemented. 11. Joint Master’s programs represent ed another key strand of the Academy’s work aimed particularly at participants from developing countries, LDCs and countries with economies in transition. In 2022, the Academy o ffered eight Joint Master’s programs to 251 participants, and further supported universities through the development of curricula, provision of IP reference materials, and support for international lecturers. The WIPO and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Colloquium, organized in Geneva, additionally offered support to IP teachers and researchers. IP AND DEVELOPMENT 12. The CDIP, under the agenda item “IP and Development ”, continued to discuss one topic per session, based on the topics proposed and agreed upon by Member States .
21 This agenda item serves as a platform for in- depth discussion on the selected topic , as well as WIPO’s existing wo rk and future direction in that area. It also provides an opportunity for Member States to share experiences and their expectations of the Organization’s work and technical assistance i n various fields of IP. During its twenty -eighth session, held from May 16 to 20, 2022, the Committee discussed the topic “IP and Innovation: Trademarks and Design Strategies for Entrepreneurs ”. Following a detailed presentation by the Secretariat,22 the Member States shared their views, experiences and practices related to trademarks and design strategies for entrepreneurs in their respective countries. At its twenty -ninth session, held fr om October 17 to 21, 2022 , the Committee discussed the topic “ IP Commercialization and Technology Transfer ”. The Committee listened to two presentations by the Secretariat23 on that topic, which was followed by contributions by a number of delegations on t heir national 14 This course offers patent professionals technical skills and knowledge necessary to prepare and file successful patent applications, which can also be integrated into national/regional qualification and training of patent professionals of WIPO Member States. 15 This course incorporates W IPO’s best practices on results-based management and other good practices in project preparation, monitoring and evaluation. 16 This course aims to train CMO staff on the use of the WIPO -developed rights management software. 17 This course will commence face -to-face, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea, in Seoul in 2023. 18 These include the IP Of fices of Albania, Cabo Verde, Cuba, Egypt, Latvia, Slovakia, South Africa, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekista n, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil. 19 Most of these advanced courses were offered online with the exception of two delivered in a hybrid format . 20 The format of the PDP curriculum was changed in 2021. 21 In this regard, to facilitate discussions, a Roster of Topics with proposals from Member States has been established and is being periodically updated. Member States are invited to submit their proposals for IP and development -related topics at any time. 22 The Secretariat’s presentation is available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_i d=576651 23 The Secretariat’s Presentations are available at: www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=589492