Meeting with leaders of world’s 5 largest IP offices focused on sustainable innovation, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions 

BY KATHI VIDAL

Recently, I had the privilege of hosting leaders of the largest intellectual property offices in the world: the European Patent Office; Japan Patent Office; Korean Intellectual Property Office; China National Intellectual Property Administration, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), for the annual meeting of the IP5, which took place in Hawaii.

I then led the USPTO delegation to the 64th Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, an annual meeting with over 190 international IP offices from around the world in Geneva.

The IP5 launched in 2007 as a forum for the world’s five largest patent offices to exchange views and identify opportunities for cooperation with regard to common challenges, including patent examination workloads, backlogs, patent quality, and inefficiencies in the international patent system.

At this year’s IP5, one topic of international concern was how to work together to support sustainable innovation and as we look to solve global climate change. There is a pressing need for more innovation in the green tech space, and we need new technologies there.

IP5 leaders shared information on initiatives that encourage patent filings in climate technologies in their countries, streamline examination, and encourage eco-friendly efforts, such as paperless filing and energy efficiency.

We brought together innovators, accelerators, and funders, as well as our sister agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to determine how we can be a catalyst to bring climate change technologies from research to the marketplace.

In my remarks at the General Assemblies, I also underscored the need for greater international collaboration to advance green technology. The USPTO delegation and I participated in a number of valuable bilateral meetings—including with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, German Patent and Trade Mark Office, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Intellectual Property India, Turkish Patent Office, and more.

Our work ties directly into the U.S. administration’s priority to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. For example, we are expanding and deepening our work with Canada to benefit all U.S. and Canadian citizens and businesses.

At the USPTO, in the last year alone, we have established new programs to address climate change. We announced a new Trademarks for Humanity Awards Program, Patents for Humanity Green Energy category, and partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization’s WIPO GREEN Program. And we recently announced the extension and expansion of our Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which accelerates the examination of patent applications for innovations that mitigate climate change.

For the entire story and relevant links, see uspto.gov/blog/director/entry/working-globally-to-address-climate