- Applications are now open for the WIPO Global Awards 2025 competition, inviting submissions from small businesses, startups, and university spin-offs.
- The Awards are open to applicants worldwide and across all business activities. They aim to recognize the effective use of intellectual property for business growth and social impact.
- This year, special mentions will be given to outstanding women and youth entrepreneurs selected from the winning companies.
- Winners will receive mentoring to enhance their intellectual property strategies, as well as fundraising support, partnership opportunities, and publicity.
Geneva, Switzerland, January 19, 2025 — The WIPO Global Awards 2025 competition has opened applications for startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and university spinouts that utilize intellectual property (IP) to stimulate economic growth and enhance societal well-being.
Launched in 2022, the Global Awards recognize enterprises that utilize intellectual property (IP) for business success and as a driver of economic and social impact. Winners receive exclusive mentoring to help them enhance their use of IP as a strategic asset. It includes support in commercialization, fundraising, partnership building, publicity, and more.
The WIPO Global Awards 2025 now accepts applications from startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), university spinouts, and smaller businesses across various sectors, including health, environment, creativity, agrifood, and information and communication technology (ICT). The application period will close on March 31, 2025.
An independent jury of experts will select ten winning enterprises, and these winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at the WIPO Assemblies in July 2025, held at WIPO’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This year, special recognition will be awarded to those winners who women and youth entrepreneurs lead.
The WIPO Global Awards showcase how intellectual property empowers companies to bring to the market great products, while tackling local and global challenges and improving lives. In 2025, we’re proud to deepen our commitment to inclusivity and innovation by recognizing outstanding women and youth entrepreneurs among the winners as part of the competition. These new special mentions reflect WIPO’s vision for a future where everyone, everywhere, benefits from IP-driven solutions. Please apply and join the global movement of WIPO Global Award change-makers.
— WIPO Director General Daren Tang
The Awards aim to promote the commercialization of intellectual property (IP) assets by recognizing outstanding inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs who effectively leverage IP to achieve their business objectives, generate revenue, create employment opportunities, address local and global challenges, and foster community and national development.
Companies worldwide are invited to submit their applications by March 31, 2025. The application form is available in several languages, including English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to advancing global innovators and creators. Its primary objective is to ensure that intellectual property (IP) is effectively transported to market, thereby enhancing the quality of life globally.
WIPO accomplishes this objective by offering comprehensive services that empower creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to safeguard and promote their intellectual property across international boundaries. Furthermore, WIPO is a forum for discussing emerging and relevant IP issues. The organization’s extensive IP data and information serve to inform decision-makers worldwide. In addition, its project initiatives and technical assistance efforts are designed to ensure that intellectual property advantages are accessible to all individuals, irrespective of their geographic location.
Suppose you’re a small business or a startup, including a university spinout — from tech to fashion, media, music, design, agriculture, or any other industry—and use intellectual property (IP) to create value. In that case, the WIPO Global Awards are for you because they are the UN Award for inventors and creators.
Whether you protect your brand with trademarks, copyrights, your creative works, or hold patents on inventions, this is your chance to be recognized on a global stage.
Source: WIPO
— The CitiTimes editor is an alumnus of WIPO Academy, Geneva, Switzerland.
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