Celebrating Women on World Intellectual Property Day

Women are in the limelight. With Hong Kong boasting our first female chief executive and the recent historical appointment of two female judges to the city’s top court, the role of women in leadership positions has never been more salient. Women again bask in the spotlight today as we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD).

Women powering change in innovation and creativity

Under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization, member states celebrate World Intellectual Property Day every April 26 to learn about the role that intellectual property rights (IPR) - patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright - play in encouraging innovation and creativity. This year’s World Intellectual Property Day campaign celebrates the brilliance, ingenuity, curiosity and courage of the women who are driving change in our world and shaping our common future.

A message of encouragement

Ada Leung, Director of Intellectual Property of the HKSAR government, reflects on this year’s WIPD theme which takes on a more personal implication. “Today more women are leading changes in the world. To me, this year’s theme encourages women to contribute to making the world a better place to live through creative and innovative efforts. It also serves as a reminder to women that although stereotypes still exist to some extent in the innovation sector, they have to break through barriers, make good use of their talents and create their future. Families, employers and those around women should nurture their interests, unearth their potential and build up their confidence. The emphasis on STEM education will encourage girls to nurture their creativity and inspire their innovation from a young age.”

Creating awareness of IPR

To ensure that IPR are respected at an early stage, the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) organises programmes for children through education. “We think education on respecting IPR is essential, and not just for girls,” says Leung. “We work together with the Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society on programmes for students, including competitions in kindergartens for parents and children to take part in to learn about respecting IPR. For primary and secondary schools, we have regular programmes such as interactive drama and school talks, engaging students in over 200 schools last year. At universities, we started sponsoring the HK Social Enterprise Challenge organised by the Centre for Entrepreneurship at The Chinese University’s Business School which encourages students to create innovative and sustainable enterprises in 2017. With this sponsorship, we aim to raise the students’ awareness of IP issues and to recognise their potential IP assets.

“Our IP Ambassador programme is ongoing at three universities with law schools –The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University and City University. This year we have recruited 37 IP Ambassadors who are law students with IP exposure. They go with us to give talks to primary and secondary school students and help us to convey the IP message to their peers and the community at large.”