On July 11, the second WIPO Global Awards ceremony was held in Geneva, Switzerland. WIPO Director General Daren Tang presented awards to representatives of seven winning enterprises, in recognition of their not only using intellectual property to achieve business success, but also having a positive impact on economic, social and cultural progress at home and abroad through the use of intellectual property.

Among the seven winning enterprises from around the world, two are from China. They are Shanghai Xijing Technology Co., Ltd., which develops multi-scenario intelligent and green solutions for bulk logistics, and Xi’an Visual Vision Network Technology Co., Ltd., which provides comprehensive digital solutions for cinemas and cultural institutions. The other five enterprises are from France, Kenya, Mexico, Singapore and Slovenia.

Daren Tang said at the award ceremony that for small and medium-sized enterprises, intellectual property is both a shield and a sword: it not only helps to protect their ideas, but also is a tool for them to enter new markets and succeed. Building a more inclusive intellectual property ecosystem and making intellectual property closer to small and medium-sized enterprises is the key to the organization’s strategy. We see these awards as an opportunity to celebrate, recognize and reward vibrant small and medium-sized enterprises that use innovation to change the world.

The WIPO Global Awards were launched in 2022 and are mainly open to small and medium-sized enterprises. They aim to recognize enterprises and individuals around the world who have a positive impact on economic, social and cultural progress at home and abroad through the use of intellectual property. The seven winning enterprises will receive exclusive mentoring programs and other forms of support and assistance from WIPO to promote their transformation and application of intellectual property.

In 2023, the WIPO Secretariat received 548 applications for the Global Awards from 58 countries, half of which came from China. In the shortlist of the Global Awards announced at the end of May, six of the 25 small and medium-sized enterprises were from China.