The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere.
We do so by providing services that enable creators, innovators and entrepreneurs to protect and promote their intellectual property (IP) across borders and acting as a forum for addressing cutting-edge IP issues. Our IP data and information guide decisionmakers the world over. And our impact-driven projects and technical assistance ensure IP benefits everyone, everywhere.
History: established in 1967 | Membership: 193 member states | Director General: Daren Tang | Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Our 193 member states approve WIPO's strategic direction and activities in the annual meetings of the Assemblies.
Our staff (- the Secretariat), guided by our core values , provide the skills to implement the member states' decisions and deliver WIPO's diverse programs.
Some 250 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have official observer status at WIPO meetings.
We help governments, businesses and society realize the benefits of IP.
Video: WIPO in three minutes
The objectives, performance measures and budgetary planning for all WIPO's proposed activities are set out in our Program of Work and Budget. We report to member states on the results each year in the WIPO Performance Report.
We submit two-yearly financial management reports and annual financial statements to the Assemblies of the Member States, prepared in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
Our operations and activities are overseen and evaluated by external and internal bodies:
WIPO is committed to improving sustainability within its operations and activities, with the ultimate goal of reducing the internal environmental footprint.
We employ talented individuals from around the globe to help us meet our challenges.
We engage experts and accredited service providers as external resources to cover our business requirements. Contractors typically work in areas such as IP for development, copyright, IP services, translation and strategic projects.
We procure goods and services from suppliers worldwide. We focus on achieving the best value for money through a transparent procurement process.
We work in close partnership with IP offices, IGOs, NGOs, and other public and private stakeholder throughout the world to deliver our programs.
World Intellectual Property Organization
34, chemin des Colombettes
CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Request a group visit for professionals, students and others interested in learning more about WIPO. Or view public exhibitions now showing at WIPO.
Our external offices support the delivery of our strategic goals and objectives in the host countries and surrounding regions:
