World Intellectual Property Day 2023: Celebrating Women's Innovation and Creativity

In a move to honour the remarkable accomplishments of women, WIPO has announced its decision to commemorate the "can-do" spirit of women globally by dedicating the theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2023 to "Women and Intellectual Property: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity."

This article highlights the significant role that women play in driving innovation and creativity while emphasising the importance of their continued participation in the global intellectual property arena.

The Rise of Women in Intellectual Property Fields

The increasing representation of women in the intellectual property sector is a promising development towards a more inclusive and diverse future. Although there has been some progress, there is still a significant amount of advancement to be accomplished to facilitate more opportunities for women's creations and innovations to thrive.

• According to the 2022 indicators released by WIPO, there has been a notable increase in the involvement of women in patent applications over the years.
• According to recent data, PCT applications in 2021 saw women comprising only 16.5% of all inventors listed, with men making up the remaining 83.5%. According to recent data, there has been a notable uptick in the percentage of female inventors over the past decade.
• The figure has risen from 10.6% in 2007 to 16.5% in 2021. The data presented highlights the vast number of talented women who have yet to be wholly relied on in fields such as science, technology, business, and the arts.

The slow yet constant rise of women innovators is an indicator for the required recalibration of current intellectual property incentives, to further empower women to pursue their passions in academic domains.

It will also highlight notable data that portrays women's achievements and their instrumental contributions that aided in shaping global IP landscapes as well as contributing to economic growth and development.

The Importance of IP for Women-Run Enterprises

Empowering and valuing women as innovators can lead to astounding results. Intellectual property is a crucial factor in the success of both skilled craftswomen producing traditional crafts and entrepreneurial female executives governing business enterprises:

• By obtaining patents, trademarks, and copyrights, businesses run by women can increase their market presence, draw in investors, and develop a strong brand identity.
• Legally protecting their ideas will further highlight their creativity and differentiate them from adversaries. Moreover, it will empower women to enter global marketplaces and aim for the stars.
• Moreover, it will enable them to eliminate the risk of imitation by rivals.

This way, businesses have the potential to leverage their intellectual property to generate fresh revenue streams and explore novel avenues for expansion.

Women's Impact on IP in the MENA Region

The Middle East and North African region, known for its cultural richness and vast history, has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years. This can be partially attributed to the burgeoning number of women breaking barriers across industries and significantly impacting IP through creativity, innovation, and perseverance.

Women in the MENA region encounter numerous barriers concerning intellectual property that impede their ability to protect their ideas and innovations, such as:

• Limited access to information and education on IP protection.
• Inadequate entrepreneurial resources, designed to cater to the modern-day woman.
• Cultural biases.
• Restricted access to sources of funding.
• Underrepresentation in leadership positions within both international conglomerates and leading local entities.

As a result, women may struggle to participate in fields where IP protection is critical. The impact of these challenges may have a negative impact on their ability to innovate and contribute to the region's economic growth and development.

Despite facing a variety of obstacles, they are spearheading ground-breaking advancements that are having major impacts on the economic development of their respective nations.

Today, female entrepreneurs in the MENA region are exhibiting a resilient and determined spirit as they navigate and overcome these obstacles in pursuit of their goals.

With their innovative thinking and resourcefulness, these women are creating a name for themselves in the traditionally male-dominated arena of the industry, serving as role models for other aspiring female entrepreneurs.

UAE Female Entrepreneurs' Economic Contributions

The recent report by "Gulf Today" on the surge of women's entrepreneurship in the UAE highlights the unwavering determination and resilience of women in the region. According to a recent report, women own nearly half (47.5%) of small and medium-sized businesses in the emirates.

These female entrepreneurs also provide a significant contribution of approximately 20% to the country's GDP on an annual basis. Moreover, the report emphasises that the current government initiatives and incentives for small and medium enterprises have established an enticing environment for women investors who want to launch their own initiatives.

Conclusion: Overcoming Obstacles with Creative Solutions

Women in the business world are devising creative solutions to overcome obstacles. The recent advancements in economic growth have not only had a beneficial effect on the economy but also provided a pathway for women to attain financial independence and invest in their communities and households.

This year's theme rightfully honors the efforts of women who have displayed resilience, passion, and determination in overcoming challenges while pushing forth their ideas.

Women have proven time and time again that they can achieve incredible feats. From inventing ground-breaking technologies to creating inspiring works of art, women have made significant contributions to various industries.

Women who have overcome boundaries pertaining to technological contributions such as Stephanie Kwolek, who invented Kevlar, a polymer that is used to make bulletproof vests. Mary Anderson, who brought about the indispensable windshield wiper, and Rosalind Franklin, whose research in X-ray crystallography was instrumental in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.

In the field of arts, women have created works that are recognized and celebrated around the world. From Frida Kahlo's ‘Two Fridas’, to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and to Maya Angelou's ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, women have created powerful and influential works of art, that are considered to have had a hand in shaping the modern-day interpretation of creativity.

Through advocacy, education, and strategic use of IP rights, women are continuing to make significant contributions to various fields while also protecting their intellectual property. Promoting gender equality and empowering women inventors and creators is crucial to driving progress towards a more equitable and prosperous society. By recognising the noteworthy achievements of women in the intellectual property field and advocating for gender parity, we are given the power to unleash the untapped potential of women globally, leading to a better tomorrow.