"Unlock Your Potential: Empowering Women in Intellectual Property"
By: Carole Long
March 2nd, 2023
World IP Day is April 26th and this year’s theme is Woman and IP Accelerating Innovation & Creativity. It is important for girls and women to get into IP (intellectual property) because it is a key factor in accelerating innovation and creativity. IP is a valuable asset that can be used to protect and monetize ideas, inventions, and creative works. Having more women involved in IP can help to create a more diverse and inclusive environment that encourages innovation and creativity and can help to create a more equitable and balanced playing field for all innovators and creators. IP is exciting and fun because it allows people to create something unique and valuable. It can also be a great way to make money and build a career. Finally, IP can be a great way to collaborate with others and create something that has a lasting impact.
Canadians are very creative people. They are known for their innovative ideas and their ability to think outside the box. Canadians have made significant contributions to the world in the fields of art, music, literature, science, technology, and more. Canada is home to some of the world's most renowned artists, musicians, writers, scientists, and innovators. Famous Canadian woman inventors include Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw, who invented the first birth control clinic in Canada; Dr. Helen Battle, who invented the first Canadian-made insulin; and Dr. Ann Makosinski, who invented the Hollow Flashlight, a flashlight powered by body heat.
There are a number of reasons why more women have not gone into the IP field. These include a lack of awareness of the opportunities available, a lack of access to resources and training, and a lack of support from employers and peers. There may also be a lack of confidence in their abilities or a fear of failure. We can support women in IP by providing mentorship and networking opportunities, offering educational resources, and training, creating a supportive environment and encouraging women to pursue IP-related careers. Imagine if women had more role models and mentors in the field.
This year WIPO is holding a video competition, with the theme of “When women enter the IP universe, we accelerate innovation and creativity and everyone’s a winner,” participants are requested to submit a 90-second video that explores the importance of girls and women getting into IP, and how we all benefit from this. The video may showcase the creativity and innovation of women inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs, highlighting how IP rights can enable women to make an even greater impact on society and the economy, as well as the collective benefits that arise from the participation of a greater number of women in innovation and IP ecosystems.
The competition is an opportunity for you to share your ideas on how an inclusive innovation ecosystem can unleash the ingenuity and creativity of girls and women to build a better tomorrow for the benefit of all. So, let's all encourage girls and women to get into IP. It's a win-win situation for us all! The deadline to submit your video is March 19th at 5:59 pm. Here is the link to submit your application, https://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/ipday/2023/video-competition.html?utm_source=WIPO+Newsletters&utm_campaign=bcb5020c64-EVENT_WIPD_Video_EN_220223&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-bcb5020c64-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D
If you would like to talk more about empowering women in intellectual property, please email me at carole@nwoinnovation.ca