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Panama and WIPO Advance Plans for an Intellectual Property Training Institution

By De Puy & Asociados

The Panamanian Ministry of Commerce and Industries and the World Intellectual Property Organization are working on the establishment of an Intellectual Property Training Institution aimed at strengthening IP education and capacity building in the country.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), through the General Directorate of Industrial Property Registry (DIGERPI), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) are advancing a process to establish an Intellectual Property Training Institution (IPTI) in Panama. The initiative is currently undergoing a needs assessment mission led by specialists from the WIPO Academy and the DIGERPI technical team.

The two-day mission is focused on reviewing the objectives, methodology and expected results of the process, as well as the initial commitments and responsibilities of the parties involved. The work also includes gathering information that will serve as the basis for the IPTI's work plan and identifying existing training needs in intellectual property in Panama.

Carolina Tobar, associate program officer of the WIPO Academy's IPTI Program, said the mission seeks to validate the conditions required for establishing the future institution and to involve the sectors that will play a role in its development. These include universities, government institutions, bar associations and business organizations.

Leonardo Uribe, director general of the Industrial Property Registry, said the initiative responds to MICI's interest in expanding public access to information and training on intellectual property. According to Uribe, the objective is to deepen knowledge of IP among entrepreneurs, academia, universities and research centers, and to strengthen its role as a tool for economic development and for Panamanian society more broadly.

As part of the mission, meetings are being held with strategic stakeholders to present the scope of the cooperation for the creation of the IPTI and its relevance to Panama. The discussions also seek to identify opportunities for collaboration with universities, government institutions, research centers, professional associations, businesses and other sectors involved in innovation and knowledge generation.

The initiative forms part of WIPO's broader IPTI program, through which the WIPO Academy supports member states in developing sustainable and adaptable solutions for intellectual property training. WIPO states that the program includes the establishment of training institutions, joint cooperation projects, training-of-trainers activities and networking opportunities.

According to WIPO's current network information, Panama is among the countries that have expressed interest in establishing an IPTI. The organization currently lists institutions already established in several Latin American countries, including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru and the Dominican Republic, while Panama remains in the development stage.

The next steps will involve defining the needs, institutional framework and potential partnerships required for the future training institution. The process is intended to provide Panama with a structured platform for strengthening intellectual property knowledge among professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, universities and other stakeholders involved in innovation and the creation and use of intellectual assets.