The latest PCT Newsletter published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is promoting the WIPO Green platform as a way to match GreenTech innovators with commercialization partners.
The initiative from WIPO is a welcome move towards facilitating collaboration and development of green technologies which mitigate climate change, reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable resource use.
The WIPO Green platform consists of a searchable “matchmaking” database and a service network. Innovators can publicize their green technologies on the database and make contact with potential partners with a view to securing licensing or partnership agreements.
The database also enables users to input specific green technology needs with calls to innovators to meet those needs with environmentally sound technologies.
The service network component of the initiative will facilitate partnerships by providing training, advice on licensing, and assistance with obtaining financial support. It will also provide links to technology experts worldwide.
The initiative provides both technology providers and technology seekers with opportunities for collaboration with international organizations, companies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and SMEs.
Currently, major technology providers signed up to the initiative include CERN (Switzerland), Fujitsu (Japan), General Electric Company (United States), Hitachi (Japan), Honda Motor Co. (Japan), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States), Stanford University (United States) and the University of Geneva (Switzerland).
Technology seekers include the Association for Environmental Management and Development (AGED) (Burkina Faso), KOE Technology Investment co., Ltd. (China), Shanghai Technology Transfer Exchange (China) and SIG (Switzerland).
Licensing of any intellectual property relating to the green technologies (e.g. patents, designs or trade secrets) will be governed by individually negotiated agreements between the parties involved.
The GreenTech category with most technologies listed on the WIPO Green database is currently alternative energy production with 22 technologies. Other technology categories include include waste management (13 technologies), energy conservation (8), agriculture / forestry (2) and transportation (2).
The WIPO Green initiative provides much needed opportunities for all parties to engage with international organizations to develop and deploy their innovations on a global scale.
Article by Dr. Tim Stirrup, a Patent Attorney with Baldwins Intellectual Property in New Zealand and represents a number of clients in the Greentech sphere.
Article appearing courtesy Green Patent Blog.
