Worldwide IP training is one of the priorities of the FICPI Academy, and members of the FICPI Academy met during the FICPI Open Forum in London in October 2023, to discuss possible parameters for an exchange programme.

Under this programme, FICPI member firms would send one or more of its professionals to another country for a period of time in which to study the national/regional IP laws of that jurisdiction. The Academy sent a questionnaire to FICPI members, to which an excellent response was received.

Members from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the US indicated interest in sending a professional trainee to another jurisdiction.

Likewise, members from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Haiti, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the US indicated interest in accepting a professional trainee in the programme.

Some respondents indicated preference for a bilateral exchange, while others indicated preference for a unilateral exchange, or no preference. Members also indicated preferences for years of experience of the trainee, ranging from just half a year to as many as ten years. Language spoken by the trainee and the hosting firm will be other parameters to be considered in the exchange process.

The Academy will be meeting in the coming months to adopt a set of guidelines for the exchange, as well as a platform for connecting member firms interested in the exchange. FICPI looks forward to providing this platform for its member firms and current or future FICPI members.

This initiative complements the UN Sustainable Development Goals of quality education (goal 4), decent work and economic growth (goal 8), and reduced inequalities (goal 10), and the UN SDG Goals are the theme of this year’s World IP Day.

This article is part of FICPI's collection of content for World IP Day 2024.  

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