IP Management Clinic 2023 – Agriculture

March 13, 2023

WIPO GREEN and WIPO IP for Business Division together with SIDLEY AUSTIN’S Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program present: IP Management Clinic 2023 - Agriculture.

Are you part of an SME working in the agriculture sector? Do you need support to improve your business & Intellectual Property (IP) strategies?

Applications are open

This year’s IP Management Clinic will focus on agriculture. WIPO and Sidley Austin’s Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program are joining forces to help Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprises (MSMEs) who are developing solutions for the agriculture sector that enhance food security or reduce pollution, water use or carbon emissions.

Navigating the IP system is vital to ensuring that new agricultural technologies receive investment and are brought to market. The IP Management Clinic is a program that aims to help enterprises to better utilize IP as part of their business strategies.

Feedback from the 2022 IP Management Clinic

Fantastic course providing a huge amount of knowledge about the importance of aligning IP and business strategy with the key risks and related mitigations (including employees’ and ownership considerations) As a result, we have adapted our IP strategy to perform quarterly IP reviews, competitor analysis updates and tracking systems for customer projects.

Ben Reeve from Modern Synthesis, a UK-based biomaterial innovative company
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Photo: Getty Images

Why participate?

Companies selected to take part in the IP Management Clinic will benefit from a program of activities spread over five months, specifically designed to address their IP management needs, as determined in the application process. They will receive advice on IP management strategies and guidance on how the IP system can be used to make their products, services or business model more competitive in today’s market.

During the 5 months of the clinic, companies can expect to participate in:

  • 3 personalized, one-to-one mentoring sessions with renowned IP experts with knowledge of the agriculture sector.
  • 4 online workshop events covering a range of business and IP related topics designed to correspond to the specific needs of the participating companies.
    These might include:
    • IP Management strategies;
    • IP as a source of competitive intelligence;
    • Patenting strategies for agriculture technologies;
    • Creating Value in Agtech: The Role and importance of IP for software-intensive companies;
    • Micro Insurance and Micro Loans Considerations
    • Insurance Schemes Against Climate Shocks
    • Food, health and safety considerations to export to EU/US
    • Licensing Agreements and Technology Transfer
  • Peer to peer networking opportunities amongst participating companies in the clinic.

Who can apply?

To participate, Micro or SMEs must meet the following criteria:

  • Have an innovative green product or technology and a clear business model
  • Have a technology that is relevant to the agricultural industry
  • Have at least one registered IP right
  • Have an entrepreneurial team (a minimum of 3 people)
  • Have operations in a low or middle-income country
  • Be ready to be listed in the WIPO GREEN database (Free of charge)
  • The company’s entrepreneurial team must have a good command of the English language

Deadline and schedule

To participate, applicants must complete the questionnaire by April 21, 2023.

WIPO will assess applications and select a limited number of companies for the program. The selection announcement and launch of the program will take place by April 30, 2023.

To ensure a successful IP management clinic, the selected companies will be expected to actively participate (join the online workshops, provide non-confidential information on their product/technology and IP, and provide feedback after the clinic).

Apply now

About WIPO GREEN

WIPO GREEN is a global marketplace for sustainable technology, supporting global efforts to address climate change. Through its online database and regional activities, WIPO GREEN connects green tech seekers and providers in order to catalyze green innovation and accelerate green tech transfer and diffusion. Subscribe to the bi-monthly WIPO GREEN newsletter.

About IP for Business

The IP for Business Division (IPBD) is responsible for developing tools and services and implementing programs to support enterprises maximize their potential through intellectual property. The division works with SME support institutions and other intermediaries and supports the development of innovation ecosystems, including by helping inventors access the patent system and developing the patent drafting profession.