April 26, 2021- International Intellectual Property Day
On April 26 we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, which allows us to educate the general public about how intellectual property (IP) rights foster innovation and creativity.
In his video message to mark World Intellectual Property Day the Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Mr. Tang, noted that SMEs make up 90% of all companies in the world and provide 70% of global employment [1]. That is why World IP Day 2021 is held under the slogan "IP and SMEs. How to commercialize your ideas."
"Simply put, SMEs are the engines and ignored heroes of our economy. However, many of them still lack sufficient knowledge of how IP can help them turn ideas into goods and services, and how IP can be a powerful tool in their hands, not only for survival, but also for competition and growth," said the director.
According to Mr. Tang, "SMEs certainly face different obstacles, and our assistance to them needs to be tailored to the needs in the relevant part of the world. But a powerful message will be our message that we will support them together...."
Mr. Tang, who took up his duties as WIPO General Director in October 2020, has made supporting small businesses a priority for the Organization. One of his first initiatives as General Director was the creation of the IP ecosystem and innovation Sector, within WIPO's eight sectors, to coordinate support for SMEs, entrepreneurs and researchers in commercializing IP and using its tools for commercial development.
He noted that "Whatever help we give our SMEs, it will be to support the very foundation of your economy and the backbone of the world economy. Ultimately this will help make our world a better place", once the COVID-19 pandemic will be passed.
WIPO is coordinating an international campaign to highlight the importance of intangible assets for SMEs and the value of IP in supporting SME development. It has published a number of case studies from around the world, telling the stories of SMEs using IP rights to turn their ideas into business opportunities and earn money. WIPO has also published a wealth of practical information on how SMEs can best protect their intangible assets.
About International IP Day
In 2000, WIPO's member states designated April 26 - the day on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970 - as World Intellectual Property Day to increase public awareness about intellectual property (IP). Since then, World IP Day has provided a unique opportunity each year for all the world's stakeholders to discuss how IP helps music and the arts to flourish, and drives the technological innovation that shapes the world in which we live.
