The World Intellectual Property Organization– WIPO Global Awards celebrate exceptional enterprises and individuals who utilize intellectual property for commercialization while positively contributing to society through innovation and creativity. This annual contest is open to applicants from WIPO’s 193 Member States and various economic sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and, starting in 2024, startups.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
• Result Announcement Dates:
  • Finalists: Second week of May 2024
  • Winners: End of May 2024
  • Award Ceremony: Second week of July 2024
• Funding Type: Partially Funded
• Organizer: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• Eligible Countries: WIPO’s 193 Member States, including Afghanistan
• Target Group: SMEs and startups
• Focus Area: Intellectual Property (IP) commercialization, Innovation, Creativity
• Number of Opportunity: Up to 25 finalists, seven winners
• Ceremony Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Benefits and Financial Aids

Winners of the WIPO Global Awards 2024 in Geneva will receive the following:

Fully Funded Trip to Geneva: Travel expenses are available per WIPO’s rules for attending the Awards Ceremony and special events.

Unique WIPO Trophy: A specially designed WIPO Trophy exclusive to this program.

Tailored IP Mentorship: Customized mentorship opportunities in intellectual property (IP), considering the winners’ business background and specific needs on a case-by-case basis

Additional Benefits: Winners will enjoy promotion, visibility, and recognition through:

• Awards Ceremony
• Special WIPO Awards webpage
• WIPO media channels
• Other external IP-related media platforms.

Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply for the WIPO Global Awards, please review these eligibility criteria:

For SMEs:

• SMEs should be registered business entities with proof of registration
• Up to 300 employees and $15 million total annual sales
• Holder of at least one registered IP right
• Exporting products or services to at least one country

For Startups:

• Startups should be registered business entities with no more than three years of legal existence.
• Up to 50 employees
• Innovative product or service associated with IP rights
• Submission of at least one IP right registration application or holder of at least one registered IP right
• Affiliated with a business support organization
• Affirmed engagement with at least one commercial customer, completed a business sale, or secured one investor

Required Materials

Please upload these application documents:

• Proof of registration
• Description of IP rights usage for commercialization
• Details of positive contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for SMEs
• Business pitch details for startups

Evaluation Process

The WIPO Secretariat, led by its internal Awards Program team, will compile a shortlist of up to 25 finalists from all timely submissions. Finalists will receive advance email notification at least one week before the public announcement of the shortlist.

An international jury of up to seven experts with substantial experience in innovation, creativity, and intellectual property, representing diverse aspects such as geography, gender, age, culture, and language, will choose up to seven (7) winners from the shortlisted finalists. Winners will receive an email notification at least one week before the Awards Ceremony.

The WIPO Secretariat and the international jury will primarily use written responses from applicants to evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

Applicable to SMEs:

• Understanding and applying IP rights to safeguard, manage, and commercialize IP assets and other intangible assets like data to achieve business and corporate objectives.
• They have contributed positively to up to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Applicable to Startups:

• Business pitch covering business feasibility, unique value proposition, scalability, and vision for job growth.
• Demonstration of the potential use of IP rights or current use of IP rights to safeguard, manage, and commercialize IP assets and other intangible assets like data to achieve business and corporate objectives
• Existing or potential positive contributions to up to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Notes:

• The jury is emphasizing inclusiveness and diversity.
• All decisions made by the WIPO Secretariat and the international jury are final and not subject to any appeal.

How to Apply?

To apply for the WIPO Global Awards, please follow these steps:

• Participants can only have one entry in either the SMEs or Startups categories.
• Entries must be in one of the six UN official languages or Japanese through the online application form linked below.
• Participants, in the form, must provide details on how they use IP rights for regional or international commercialization and describe its potential contribution to economic, social, or cultural development. Startups need to elaborate on their IP commercialization plans.

Apply Now

Disclaimer: WIPO reserves the right to disregard non-compliant or fraudulent submissions.

Please enter the official WIPO website or review the application page for further details about the WIPO Global Awards.

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