Cooperation between Shanghai, WIPO
The city of Shanghai in East China has long had a history of cooperation and exchange with the World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO, which is based in the city of Geneva in Switzerland.
It's a relationship that has contributed to the city's development as an international intellectual property or IP protection hub.
China's cooperation with WIPO dates back to November 1973, when a Chinese government delegation attended the fourth series of meetings of the WIPO and its governing bodies in Geneva as an observer. This marked the beginning of half a century of cooperation between China and WIPO.
Since then, Shanghai has maintained a good cooperative relationship with WIPO. In fact, in 2014 and 2018, the Shanghai Municipal Government and WIPO signed memorandums of understanding – or MoUs – and supplementary agreements on IP. They laid a solid foundation for Shanghai to comprehensively improve its IP work level and deepen its multidimensional cooperation and exchange in the field.
On Dec 9, 2023, the Shanghai municipal government and WIPO signed a new MoU on strengthening exchanges and cooperation in IP in Shanghai, providing better support for accelerating the construction of an international IP protection highland and an international IP center city – as well as the Shanghai International Science and Technology Innovation Center.
According to the MoU, the Shanghai Municipal Government and WIPO will deepen their cooperation in the areas of IP ecosystem construction, diversified IP dispute resolution mechanism construction, IP utilization, and IP talent cultivation. In addition, they will promote more international high-quality IP resources to settle in Shanghai.
Let's review some of the highlights of Shanghai's cooperation and exchanges with WIPO!
1
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In December 2011, Zhao Wen, then vice mayor of Shanghai, led a delegation to WIPO. Since then, Zhao has led several delegations to visit the WIPO headquarters in Geneva and called on then WIPO Director-General Francis Gurry.
2
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On May 7-11, in 2013, Christian Wichard, deputy director-general of WIPO, visited Shanghai to participate in the first China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair. WIPO is the supporting unit of the fair.
3
In September 2014, Lyu Guoqiang, then director-general of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA), attended the 54th Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO. Lyu delivered a speech entitled "IP Pledge Financing and Value Realization" at the special conference on "IP Financing Facilitates the Realization of Innovative Value" that was jointly organized by China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the Intellectual Property Office (United Kingdom) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
4
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In December 2014, Yang Xiong, then mayor of Shanghai, and Francis Gurry, then director-general of WIPO, jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation in the Field of IP between the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and WIPO. The Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum was then held for the first time.
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In May 2015, the WIPO Summer Schools on Intellectual Property took place in China for the first time and a class opening ceremony was held at the East China University of Political Science and Law.
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Since 2015, the WIPO China Office and SIPA have jointly held workshops and seminars on the effective application of the WIPO service system in Shanghai every year.
7
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In November 2016, with the support of WIPO and CNIPA, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, relying on Tongji University, established the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property (SICIP). The college and WIPO jointly work on the WIPO-Tongji Master's Degree Program in Intellectual Property Law.
8
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In September 2017, Rui Wenbiao, then deputy director-general of SIPA visited the WIPO headquarters in Geneva and delivered a speech at the WIPO Advisory Committee on Enforcement Twelfth Session.
9
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In June 2018, Chen Qun, vice mayor of Shanghai, led a delegation to WIPO's headquarters in Geneva.
10
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In November 2018, the Supplement to the Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property was signed in Shanghai between Shanghai municipal people's government and WIPO. Ying Yong, then mayor of Shanghai, met with Francis Gurry, then director-general of WIPO and on behalf of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government – inviting Gurry to be the special expert at the eighth decision-making consultation of Shanghai.
11
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On April 24, 2019, CNIPA and WIPO signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) in China. The first batch of TISCs was announced, with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Patent and Trademark Office included.
12
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On April 25, 2019, Chen Qun, vice mayor of Shanghai, visits then WIPO Director-General Francis Gurry at WIPO's China office in Beijing.
13
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On Oct 20, 2019, Francis Gurry, then director-general of WIPO, was invited to the 31st International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai and delivered a keynote speech.
14
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In October 2019, the 16th Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum was successfully held in Shanghai. Before the opening ceremony of the forum, Li Qiang, then Party secretary of Shanghai and Ying Yong, then mayor of Shanghai, met with Francis Gurry, then director-general of WIPO.
15
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In October 2019, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government jointly and WIPO jointly issued the first Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation Award.
16
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In November 2019, Minelik Alemu Getahun, assistant director-general of WIPO, visited Shanghai. He attended the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo and delivered a keynote speech at the International Cooperation Forum on Combating Infringement and Counterfeiting.
17
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The 17th Shanghai International Intellectual Property (IP) Forum opened in Shanghai on Oct 20, 2020 with the aim of "promoting high-quality economic development in the post-pandemic era and building Shanghai into an international forefront of IP protection". Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, delivered speeches by video link.
18
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On Oct 20, 2020, Shen Changyu, director of the CNIPA, and Chen Qun, then vice-mayor of Shanghai, jointly awarded the winners of the second Shanghai IP Innovation Awards.
19
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Liu Hua, director of the WIPO China office, visited SIPA on Nov 4, 2020 and was received by Rui Weibiao, director-general of SIPA. The two had in-depth discussions on deepening cooperation in the field of IP.
20
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A training course on the Effective Use of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Services – organized by the WIPO China Office and SIPA – was held in Shanghai on Nov 24, 2020.
Liu Hua, director of the WIPO China Office, delivered a speech via video link. Lyu Guoqiang, senior advisor of the WIPO China Office attended the opening ceremony.
21
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A delegation from the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, led by Rui Wenbiao, director general of the administration, visited the World Intellectual Property Organization's China Office in Beijing on March 12, 2021.
They had in-depth exchanges with Liu Hua, the WIPO office's director, on Shanghai's IP-related international cooperation programs.
22
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WIPO and Tongji University in Shanghai signed a new agreement on July 14, 2021 for the second phase of the WIPO-Tongji Master's Degree Program in Intellectual Property.
Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Qun attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. WIPO Academic Executive Director Sherif Saadallah and Tongji University President Chen Jie signed the agreement on behalf of both parties.
23
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On Sept 13, 2021, the 2021 WIPO-China Summer School on Intellectual Property opened at the East China University of Political Science and Law. Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, delivered a video speech, and Yu Chen, deputy director general of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA), and Ye Qing, deputy Party secretary and principal of the East China University of Political Science and Law, attended the event.
24
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[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
Shanghai municipal government and WIPO held a video conference on Sept 28, 2021 with Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and Daren Tang, the director general of WIPO participating.
25
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The 18th Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum – with its theme of "Intellectual Property Protection and International Cooperation in the Era of Digital Economy" – opened on Oct 19, 2021.
Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Among dignitaries delivering speeches were He Rong, executive vice-president of the Supreme People's Court and Shen Changyu, commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration. Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, delivered a keynote speech by video link.
26
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Chen Qun, vice mayor of Shanghai and Liu Hua, a special authorized representative of the WIPO director general, presented prizes to the winners of the third WIPO-SMPG Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation Award on Oct 19, 2021.
27
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Liu Xiaoyun, president of the Shanghai High People's Court and Erik Wilbers, senior director of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, signed a memorandum of understanding on Oct 19, 2021.
28
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Gan Shaoning, deputy head of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, led a delegation on a visit to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service on Nov 5, 2021.
29
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On Dec 21, 2021, the 2021 WIPO Global Service Workshop, co-organized by the WIPO Office in China and SIPA and hosted by the Pudong New Area IP administration, was held in Shanghai. Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, delivered a video speech for the training course.
30
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On July 7, 2022, the graduation ceremony for the fifth WIPO-Tongji Master's Degree Program in Intellectual Property Law and the Chinese Government Belt and Road Master's Program in Intellectual Property was held at Tongji University. Bai Guangqing, then director of the cooperation division of CNIPA, Joe Bradley, head of the Academic Institutions Program at WIPO, Mao Lijuan, then deputy director general of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, and Lyu Peiming, executive vice-president of Tongji University, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.
31
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On July 19, 2022, the first WIPO Global Awards ceremony was held during the WIPO General Assembly. Five enterprises from 62 countries and 272 applicant enterprises won the trophies, and Shanghai's Shylon Optoelectronic Technology was among them.
32
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On July 21, 2022, at the invitation of WIPO, representatives of the Shanghai High People's Court attended the 63rd WIPO General Assembly and spoke at the parallel forum.
33
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On Aug 25, 2022, Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, led a team to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center Shanghai Service to inspect the construction and operation of the institution. Lyu Xuecheng, deputy head of the Pudong New Area, and Lin Benchu, director of the Pudong New Area IP administration, also participated.
34
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On Sept 9, 2022, the inaugural meeting and the first plenary meeting of the Governing Board of Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property were held. Chen Qun, then vice-mayor of Shanghai, attended and delivered a speech. Fang Shouen, Party secretary of Tongji University, attended and delivered a speech. Huang Yongping, then deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government, presided over the meeting.
35
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On Sept 13, 2022, the 2022 WIPO-China Summer School on Intellectual Property opened at the East China University of Political Science and Law. Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, delivered a video speech, and Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, and Guo Weilu, Party secretary of the East China University of Political Science and Law, attended and delivered speeches.
36
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On Sept 12, 2022, the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, held the opening ceremony for the new semester of the WIPO-Tongji Master's Degree Program in Intellectual Property Law and the Chinese Government "Belt and Road" Master's Program in Intellectual Property. Sheng Li, deputy director of the international cooperation department of CNIPA, Martha Chikowore, acting head of the Academic Institutions and Executive Program in the WIPO Academy, Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, and Lei Xinghui, then vice-president of Tongji University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
37
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On Sept 30, 2022, the roundtable meeting on interpreting the 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII) was held in Beijing. WIPO assistant director-general Marco Aleman and Li Baodong, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia, delivered the opening remarks. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, head of WIPO's economics and statistics division and co-editor of the 2022 GII, interpreted the index, while Liu Hua, director of WIPO Office in China, chaired the meeting. Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, attended and made a speech online.
38
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[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
On Nov 18, 2022, the 19th Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum, themed "Strengthening IP Commercialization and Fueling the Innovative Growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises", opened. Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai, attended and delivered a speech. Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, and Shen Changyu, director of CNIPA, attended and jointly unveiled the Shanghai Intellectual Property Protection Center. Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, delivered a video speech.
39
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On Nov 18, 2022, Chen Qun, then vice-mayor of Shanghai, Hu Wenhui, deputy director of CNIPA, and Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, awarded the winners of the fourth Shanghai IP Innovation Awards.
40
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On Dec 21, 2022, the 2022 WIPO Global Service Workshop, co-organized by the WIPO Office in China and SIPA and hosted by the Pudong New Area IP administration, was held in Shanghai.
41
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[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
On Feb 14, 2023, Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, led a team to visit the WIPO Office in China in Beijing and had an in-depth exchange with Liu Hua, director of the office, on strengthening cooperation between the two sides. Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, also attended the meeting.
42
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On July 3, 2023, the opening ceremony of the 2023 WIPO-China Summer School on Intellectual Property was held at the Changning Campus of the East China University of Political Science and Law. Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, and Guo Weilu, Party secretary of the East China University of Political Science and Law, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
43
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On the afternoon of July 4, 2023, local time, at the invitation of WIPO, Xie Dong, vice-mayor of Shanghai, visited the WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, for the first time and met with Daren Tang, director general of WIPO. Wang Binying, deputy director general of WIPO, Ignacio de Castro, director of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, and Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, attended the meeting. Wang Ping, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, and Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, also participated.
44
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[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
On July 6, 2023, the WIPO main event of the series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of cooperation between China and WIPO was held in Geneva. During the event, Shanghai set up an exhibition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of China's cooperation with WIPO, and Xie Dong, vice-mayor of Shanghai, led the Shanghai delegation to attend the 64th WIPO General Assembly and met with Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, effectively promoting the deepening of cooperation between the two sides.
45
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On July 11, 2023, the second WIPO Global Awards ceremony was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Shanghai Westwell Technology stood out from 548 enterprises from 58 countries and became one of the seven global winners. This was also the second time that a Shanghai enterprise won the award, following Shylon Optoelectronic Technology in 2022. Shanghai also became the only city in China that had enterprises winning the award for two consecutive years.
46
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In November 2023, Francis Gurry, former director general of WIPO and a recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, visited SIPA. Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, met with Gurry.
47
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To accelerate the construction of an international IP protection highland and an international IP center city, and better support the construction of the Shanghai International Science and Technology Innovation Center, the Shanghai Municipal Government and WIPO signed a MoU on strengthening exchange and cooperation in the field of IP in Shanghai on Dec 9, 2023. Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, and Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, signed the MoU on behalf of the two sides. Shen Changyu, director of CNIPA, Lu Pengqi, deputy director of CNIPA, Wang Binying, deputy director general of WIPO, and Xie Dong, vice-mayor of Shanghai, attended the event.
48
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[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
The 20th Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum, themed "Strengthening Legal Protection for Intellectual Property, Fueling Innovation-Driven Development of Digital Economy", opened on Dec 10, 2023. Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai, attended and delivered a speech. Shen Changyu, director of CNIPA, and Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Li Zheng, Xie Dong, and other Shanghai municipal leaders, Lu Pengqi, deputy director of CNIPA, and Wang Binying, deputy director general of WIPO, attended the opening ceremony.
49
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[Photo provided to ensipa.cn]
On the afternoon of Dec 10, 2023, Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, visited the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service for the first time since he took office. Wang Binying, deputy director general of WIPO, Ignacio de Castro, director of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, Lv Guoqiang, head of the Shanghai Service, relevant officials from CNIPA, Rui Wenbiao, director general of SIPA, accompanied the visit.
50
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On Dec 14, 2023, the 2023 WIPO Global Service Workshop was held in Shanghai. Lv Guoqiang, head of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service, Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, and He Ying, deputy director of the Pudong New Area IP administration, delivered speeches for the workshop.