WIPO – ICC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRAINING WORKSHOP, GENEVA

15-16 SEPT 2008

Bola Olabisi, LLM, FRSA, Founder & CEO

Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN)

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

• INTRODUCTION• BRIEF OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES BY GWIIN• THE IMPORTANCE• THE CHALLENGES• CONCLUDING REMARKS

INTRODUCTION TO GWIIN

Our aim An initiative set up to increase the participation and position of creative, inventive and innovative women in all sectors of industry while increasing job creation for a better quality of life.

Known for our Innovative projects, knowledge

exchange symposiums, Exhibitions, Seminars and Award Ceremonies

Went into partnership with London Metropolitan University extending into Europe.

Ten years of incubating innovation, enterprise and technology

1998-2008

Started in the UK in 1998

Initial Supportive Stakeholders include • HSBC PLC• The UK Patent Office (now UKIPO)• London Development Agency• Welsh Assembly Government• Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA)• Small Business Service, Department of Trade & Industry (now

BEER)• UK Trade & Investment• Institute of Patents & Inventors• International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA)• WIPO

GWIIN LTD is asocial enterprise consultancy `with certain activities and

projects that are primarily not for profit with a membership of 3650 worldwide

GWIIN not for profit GWIIN Consultancy (The Business side)

MADE UP OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS , SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS

PRIMARY AIM - DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL NETWORKS

The regions we are active in include: EUROPELATIN AMERICAPAN-AFRICAASIA PACIFICMIDDLE-EAST (Dubai & Saudi Arabia – coming soon)

MADE UP OF OPERATIONAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATES & THE CEO

specialising in areas covering: Intellectual property rightsinnovation, science, engineering & technologyarts & crafts, media & communication technology, food technology, health & beauty, business development, product development, education, personal and community development

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AT THE GWIIN EVENTS

ASIA PACIFIC – SINGAPORE 2004

– Particular focus on involving the youth in innovation, IPR and product development

PAN-AFRICA – PAWIIN GHANA 2005 300 in attendance with a willingness to learn, contribute and aspire A major

outcome was that – Demystify intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ensure it is part of any Business plan

LATIN AMERICA 2006 – MEXWII in Mexico City–Knowledge transfer on IPR was found to be most valuable

Europe 2007 – Berlinlaunched at the European Parliament in Brussels and first conference and

Awards in Berlin now have 22 European countries on board

Celebration March for launch of the GWIIN Southern Africa Chapter (SAWIIS)

SAWIIS 2008 - Over 1500 women in attendance wanting to understand and learn more about protection of their

commercially viable ideas and how to exploit effectively

SAWIIS LAUNCH 2008It was necessary to gain government support - Led by Women Ministers with the support of the

President and Vice President of SA

So Why does GWIIN find it so important?

Women already face certain challenges

- barriers that are particularly faced by women are, challenges such as childcare, caring responsibilities, pay gaps, several male dominated sectors, access to finance, access to relevant information ….

however being exceptionally creative, an inventor or innovator can bring an extra raft of challenges

A general lack of visibility and the need for role models and mentors - We usually ask the question :

Name THREE

Women Scientists from your country ?

Women Engineers from your country ?

Women Inventors and their inventions from your country ?

The lone female inventor or innovator & Low tech, High viability

- Women’s creativity is still under-utilised around world- Stereotyping and expectations for high tech leaves a high

percentage of women invisible for their contribution to economic and social growth

This has meant…Many Low-tech, practical, commercially viable products invented or innovated by women are not always recognised as capable of making a significant contribution to the manufacturing industry and economy.

GWIIN collaborates with various projects

FOR EXAMPLE:• Equalitec – assisting women returners in Science, Engineering and

Technology• Working closely with WITEC• A member of the European Platform for women Scientists

However, GWIIN recognises and promotes that being ‘innovative’ is not only about technology based processes but instead is relevant throughout all business practises and the broader working environment.

i.e. R& D, converting ideas into new products, new internal processes increasing efficiency, new external ways of conducting business and even new partnership formations expanding the knowledge and assets of a company

Why is it so important? Intellectual Property has never been

more important.

Our prosperity increasingly depends on our ability to turn inventions, ideas, know-how and reputation into value.

How well are we making use of IP and what can we do to improve and discuss an effective way forward for women ?

In the UK, in the past 5 years only 2.5% of the applications for patents were women

GWIIN recognises the need to bridge this gap and serves as a catalyst and intermediary broker’ for facilitating inclusion, development and success for women inventors and innovators worldwide.

GWIIN has developed various much needed capacity building tools to assist inventive and innovative women in achieving significant growth in their businesses and workplaces.

GWIIN designed and delivered a Route Map for London’s innovative diverse businesses

Example: Trade Marks, Confidentiality Agreement, Patents, Registered design, Copy rights, trade secrets

Concluding Remarks

• There is a need to carry out R&D on the barriers that are causing the low percentage of applications filed for patents by women

• There should be a more committed effort of

outreach work and dedicated policies by Government departments and their agencies to join forces and work in collaboration with ‘intermediary initiatives’ like GWIIN and similar Women’s Networks like QUIN Finland, Estonia,KWIA (Korea) across the Globe

4 Diary Dates - Join us as we continue to share good practice, network, address issues, increase

motivation and broaden horizons –

Each event consists of 3 days of conference, exhibition and Awards ceremonies and one day is devoted entirely to the issues of IPR –

• British Female Inventor & Innovator Network (BFIIN), Scotland 25-27 March 2009

• Pan African Women Inventor & Innovator Network (PAWIIN) 20-22 May 2009, Dakar, Senegal

• European Union Women Inventor & Innovator Network (EUWIIN) 7-9 October 2009, Finland

• Global Women Inventor & Innovator Network, 9-11 December 2009 Vietnam

GWIIN – creating toolboxes that foster innovation and encourage

inclusiveness

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GWIIN & OUR ACTIVITIES

VISIT

www.gwiin.com