World IP Day
On April 26, the world community traditionally celebrate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day. The date of the holiday was set in 2000 by decision of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as a tribute to the day of entry into force of the WIPO Convention, establishing this organization in 1970.
In 2021, a campaign dedicated to the World IP Day and launched with WIPO support in all parts of the world is devoted to key issues of interaction between IP and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In the modern world SMEs’ activities are becoming increasingly important and directly affect the country’s socio-economic development. Directions of supporting SMEs are dynamic and may vary based upon the state’s prior objectives and the possibility of integrating world practices in this area.
Today, the SME sector accounts for more than 90% of commercial companies around the world. They, in turn, create 40% of national income in many developing economies, and this indicator already at this stage shows that SMEs play a key role in the economy development and stimulate the creation of a competitive and sustainable business environment.
WIPO in cooperation with national and regional IP offices around the world seeks to form favourable conditions, so that SMEs can develop innovations and exploit their creative potential.
Any business starts with an idea that over time becomes an IP asset. This happens in all areas: from fine arts to artificial intelligence. That’s why the World IP Day – 2021 must be celebrated not only by inventors and authors, but also those professionals, whose activities are designed to protect and enforce the results of human intellectual activity.
Every year, Belarus joins the world campaign and holds events dedicated to the World IP Day.
Thus, on April 20, 2021, a seminar on the activities of technology and innovation support centers (TISC) and topical issues of intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection and management will be held in Vitebsk. The event’s agenda will also include the opening of the TISC point in the EI “Vitebsk State Medical University”.
On April 21, 2021, the National Library of Belarus will host a seminar “Legal Aspects of Libraries’ Activities in the Digital Environment” and the cultural and educational campaign “Masters of Belarusian Culture. Eduard Zaritsky”.
On April 23, 2021, Pinsk will host an event on the TISC activities and current trends of IPRs protection and management, as well as the opening ceremony of the TISC point in the EI “Polessie State University”.
On April 26, 2021, the annual 24th republican seminar “Topical Issues of Intellectual Property” will be held by the Republican Library on Science and Technology covering the topic “IP & SMEs: Taking your ideas to market”.
On April 27, 2021, the National Center of Intellectual Property, in cooperation with WIPO, will organize a seminar on IP management for SMEs.
