wipo green: Facilitating Dissemination of Green Technology

• Author: Anja von der Ropp
• Position: Legal Officer, Global Challenges Division, WIPO
• Pages: 28-30

p. 28 2012 | 3

WIPO GREEN:

Facilitating Dissemination

of Green Technology By Anja von der Rop p, Legal Ocer,

Global Challenges Division, WIPO

Climate cha nge is one of the de ning chall enges of

our time. Ex tending th e use of environ mentally so und

technologi es (ESTs) is a key component i n mitigati ng

and adapti ng to climate ch ange. WIPO, alon g with in-

dustr y partner s, recentl y launched t he pilot versio n of

a new platfor m known as WIPO GREEN, which seeks to

accelerat e the adaptation , adoption and dep loyment of

climate-friendly technologies, particularly in developing

countries and emerging economies.

CHALLENGES

Access to ESTs is a priority for many countries conf ronting the

challenges of climate chang e. Efforts to promote the diffusion of

these technologies, however, are often hindered by a co untry’s

capacity to absorb them. Barriers to technology diffusion are

many and varied. They may be eco nomic in nature, for example

related to a country’s openness to trade and foreign d irect

investment, or they may result from an inad equate regulatory

framework in relation to environme ntal or intellectual proper ty

(IP) policy.

Misconceptions or a lack of knowledge about how technology

transfer actually works and th e role that IP plays in the process

can also inhibit ef fective collaboration. Creating ma rkets that

support the exchange of kn owledge across a broad range

of stakeholders helps red uce transaction costs and there by

supports the diffusion of these technologies. IP rights play

a key role in terms of attracting investors, facilitating entr y

into new markets and enabling effective collaborations. By

injecting greater transpare ncy into the market for ESTs, WIPO

GREEN is poised to facilitate the broad global dissemination

of green technologies.

HOW IS WIPO GREE N DIFFERENT?

WIPO GREEN is unique for a number of reasons. First, unlike

other initiatives, it goes fur ther than facilitating access to relevant

patent information. WIPO GREEN makes it possible to offer

packaged technological solutions that include complemen-

tary elements, suc h as the know-how and technical expertise

crucial to the effective conguration of a licensed technology

for a specic operating con text.

One of the technolog ies available

in WIPO G REEN is the ver tical green

biobed for the ecient deg radation of

pesticides and s oil improvement from

the Universit y of Geneva, Swit zerland.

Photo: Hepia