WTO highlights role of IP in helping MSMEs reach international markets

By Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados

The WTO’s Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises examined how intellectual property tools can help small businesses protect innovations, strengthen brands and expand into international markets.

The World Trade Organization’s Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) held a meeting on 2 October focused on the practical role of intellectual property (IP) in helping small businesses innovate, grow and access international markets.

The session included presentations from WTO members, international organizations and other stakeholders on IP protection and commercialization, as well as examples of how intellectual property rights can support business development. The discussion highlighted the need for MSMEs to better understand the different tools available to protect and manage their intangible assets.

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys UK (CIPA UK) presented a session aimed at “demystifying” intellectual property for smaller businesses. The presentation emphasized that, although IP can play an important role in business growth, many companies are not fully aware of the mechanisms available to protect and commercialize their innovations.

A practical example was provided by Isabel Pulido, founder of Colombian company Nanofreeze. She explained how patent protection for the company's passive refrigeration technology helped attract investment, secure customers and support the company's growth. The case illustrated the potential role of patents not only as legal instruments but also as assets that can contribute to financing and commercial expansion.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) also presented tools and services available to MSMEs seeking to protect, manage and commercialize their intellectual property. Among them was the Global Entrepreneurship Empowerment Programme (GEEP), described as a centralized resource bringing together WIPO's services for entrepreneurs, complemented by mentoring and organized around different stages of the entrepreneurial process.

The discussion also addressed intellectual property tools beyond patents and trademarks. Ghana presented its experience in protecting Kente cloth as a geographical indication with WIPO support, while Peter Molnar of the Tokaj Council of Wine Communities discussed the use of IP instruments in the wine sector. These examples highlighted the relevance of geographical indications and other forms of IP protection for products whose commercial value is closely connected to their origin and reputation.

The meeting's “MSME Spotlight” featured Marie Sharp's Fine Foods of Belize, a family-owned company known for hot sauces, jams, jellies, seasonings and juices. Its experience was presented as an example of how a small business can combine branding, product quality and export capacity to develop international recognition.

The meeting also included an update on the third phase of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), launched at the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference and running through 2031. According to the EIF, the new phase has already supported around 35,000 MSMEs, with an estimated US$1.1 billion in exports generated, alongside initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of smaller businesses.

For MSMEs, the discussion places intellectual property within a broader trade and competitiveness framework. Protection of inventions, brands, product characteristics and other intangible assets can form part of a company's strategy to attract investment, establish market recognition and enter foreign markets.

The WTO meeting also included updates from the International Trade Centre on a new environmental, social and governance module for its Global Trade Helpdesk, as well as preparations for the second Global SME Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to take place in Geneva from 25 to 27 May 2027.

The meeting reflects the growing attention being given within the international trade system to the connection between intellectual property and the ability of smaller companies to participate in international commerce.