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IFIA has always struggled to ensure the protection of inventors’ rights,
support them in the procedure of invention commercialization, and raise
awareness about the Patent Cooperation Treaty and Intellectual Property
rights through a wide range of activities such as organizing workshops,
holding seminars, cooperating with other international organizations, etc.
To further assist the inventors in this regard, IFIA has managed to be the
sponsor of The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) Inventor Assistant Program (IAP) which is
in parallel with the primary objectives of IFIA.
The principal goal of IAP is to bring as many under-resourced inventors as
possible into their local IP systems by giving them the knowledge, tools and
means that they need to file complete applications, undergo substantive
examination, and ultimately enjoy the benefits of a duly issued patent.
Fundamental to this mission is the shared belief that creativity and great
ideas come from people of all walks of life, and that a truly successful IP
system is therefore one that is accessible to all, without regard to their
socioeconomic status, geography or financial means.
There are two paths of admission to IAP, one for pro se applicants who
have filed a patent application on their own behalf, and one for those
IFIA Magazine September 2024 SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR IFIA MEMBERS Inventor Assistance Program pro se applicants about the WIPO WEF IAP’s existence, eligibility criteria,
inventors who have not yet filed an application in the local patent office.
For the first path, the local Patent Office will be responsible for informing

procedures and rules upon receipt of the pro se application. Each applicant
will then decide individually whether to apply to the WIPO WEF IAP, which
is done directly with the WIPO Clearing House. For the second path, the
local Patent Office and/or other local government bodies are expected
to assist in promoting the online education program offered by WIPO, or

offered through the local patent office.
To gain further information regarding IAP as an IFIA Member, check:
www.wipo.int/iap/en
86 8 other equivalent courses that may be developed for a specific country and