WIPO and AIM Sign JLoI to Promote Innovation and Intellectual Property in Global South

The JLoI aims to develop programs for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Intellectual Property (IP) for countries in the Global South.

A high-level delegation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including Mr. Sherif Saadallah, Executive Director of the WIPO Academy, and Ms. Altaye Tedla, Head of the WIPO Academy, visited NITI Aayog today for the signing of a Joint Letter of Intent (JLoI) between the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and WIPO. The JLoI aims to develop programs for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Intellectual Property (IP) for countries in the Global South.

The event was graced by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India. Other notable attendees from NITI Aayog included Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, and Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his pleasure at seeing India's innovation ecosystem go global. He stated, “Innovation is India’s strength. This pathbreaking partnership between AIM and WIPO will take the best of India’s innovation models to countries on similar development trajectories, enhancing understanding and awareness about IPR right from the school level, unlocking global innovation potential, and fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

Mr. Sherif Saadallah highlighted the importance of IP as a catalyst for innovation and creativity, essential for youth development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He remarked, “Our focus on youth is an integral part of our work to build a more inclusive global IP ecosystem. Our partnership with Atal Innovation Mission demonstrates WIPO’s commitment to ensuring youth participation in innovation and creativity, fostering a more innovative and creative global economy.”

Last year, Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, visited the AIM ecosystem and advocated for Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centers (AIC) as templates for innovation and entrepreneurship through South-South cooperation. His observations led to WIPO inviting Dr. Chintan Vaishnav to showcase these initiatives at the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) at WIPO headquarters in Geneva. Today's agreement is a result of these discussions.

Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, commented, “WIPO's recognition of India's entrepreneurship development model is a proud moment for India and NITI Aayog, which hosts the Mission. This deepens an already productive relationship between NITI Aayog and WIPO on national competitiveness.”

WIPO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, releases the Global Innovation Index (GII) annually. According to the GII 2023 report, India retained the 40th position out of 132 economies. The WIPO Report 2022 noted that India has experienced six straight years of growth in patent filings, with the highest global growth of 31.6% driven by a substantial increase in resident filings.

Dr. V.K. Saraswat emphasized that, “In recent years, India has made huge strides in its entrepreneurial journey, aligning with our international aspirations. This partnership between AIM and WIPO positions India as a global leader in innovation, leveraging our vast talent pool and dynamic market to attract international investments. This partnership can be a game-changer in fostering a culture of IP-led innovation.”

Dr. Chintan Vaishnav expressed hope that the AIM-WIPO partnership would benefit many nations, saying, “The collaboration helps make our models more holistic as Innovation & Entrepreneurship now meets Intellectual Property (IP) in a significant way.”

The WIPO delegation will be in India for four days, participating in a workshop on Intellectual Property in Innovation at AIC GGSIPU, Dwarka, on 23rd July. They will also interact with school students from Atal Tinkering Labs and industry experts from FICCI, NASSCOM, PHDCCI, among others, during their visit.