VIR21-1

Sessions and Objectives

Technology transfer in the area of health technologies

Date: 02/03/2021 Duration: 3 (h)

Number of participants: Men(17) / Women(8)

Objective: Objective 1: To enhance coordination between LDCs and their cooperation partners in support of technology transfer projects in line with existing and planned initiatives and specific LDC national priorities. Objective 2: To enhance the understanding of LDC priority areas for technological development. Objective 3: To exchange views about projects reported in TRIPS Article 66.2 reports, and to develop more effective means of using this transparency mechanism as a tool for development cooperation.

Category: Identify, analyse and address technical assistance needs, implementation problems or other aspects of the local context

Indicators:
  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: This session was generally deemed an important area of technology transfer, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, in which LDCs have been hit hardest. At least 12 participants who answered the survey marked this session as one of the most valuable.

  • Indicator: Participation – frequency and quality of the interventions / questions raised, contribution to group work

    Evidence: Questions raised include: - How to develop local production of medicines as a means to tackle issues related to access to medicines? - More information sharing on technology transfer through compulsory licenses - How can LDCs benefit from technology transfer projects already offered in other countries?

  • Indicator: Responses to questionnaires and other written submissions – relevance, comprehensiveness, quality of the substance and form, respect of specifications

    Evidence: According to the survey, the session was rated as follows: 14% as unsatisfactory; 38% as satisfactory; 33% as successful; 14% as very successful Thus this session received a satisfactory/successful rate of 86% total.

Conclusion: The Secretariat opened this session by presenting the summary report on technology transfer in the area of health. Presentations were also made by experts from WHO, UN Technology Bank, the UK and European Commission. The participating developed country Members, in particular, provided an update of their respective 2020 report submitted.

Results: Fully

Technology transfer in the area of agriculture technologies

Date: 04/03/2021 Duration: 2 (h)

Number of participants: Men(18) / Women(8)

Objective: Objective 1: To enhance coordination between LDCs and their cooperation partners in support of technology transfer projects in line with existing and planned initiatives and specific LDC national priorities. Objective 2: To enhance the understanding of LDC priority areas for technological development. Objective 3: To exchange views about projects reported in TRIPS Article 66.2 reports, and to develop more effective means of using this transparency mechanism as a tool for development cooperation.

Category: Identify, analyse and address technical assistance needs, implementation problems or other aspects of the local context

Indicators:
  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: At least 11 participants who answered the survey marked this session as one of the most valuable.

  • Indicator: Participation – frequency and quality of the interventions / questions raised, contribution to group work

    Evidence: Questions raised include: - Who are the focal points in the reporting Developed Country Members to which LDCs can apply for assistance under Article 66.2? - What possibilities are available for technical assistance, what is the application procedure? - Are there any reporting Developed Country Members interested in assisting Burkina Faso with the valorization and labelling of cotton-derived products?

  • Indicator: Responses to questionnaires and other written submissions – relevance, comprehensiveness, quality of the substance and form, respect of specifications

    Evidence: According to the survey, the session was rated as follows: 19% as unsatisfactory; 24% as satisfactory; 38% as successful; 19% as very successful Thus this session received a satisfactory/successful rate of 81% total.

Conclusion: The Secretariat opened this session by presenting the summary report on technology transfer in the area of agriculture. Presentations were also made by experts from the WTO Agriculture and Commodities Division, EU Delegation to Burkina Faso, Japan and Norway. The participating developed country Members, in particular, provided an update of their respective 2020 report submitted.

Results: Fully

Technology transfer in the area of environmental technologies

Date: 04/03/2021 Duration: 3 (h)

Number of participants: Men(18) / Women(8)

Objective: Objective 1: To enhance coordination between LDCs and their cooperation partners in support of technology transfer projects in line with existing and planned initiatives and specific LDC national priorities. Objective 2: To enhance the understanding of LDC priority areas for technological development. Objective 3: To exchange views about projects reported in TRIPS Article 66.2 reports, and to develop more effective means of using this transparency mechanism as a tool for development cooperation.

Category: Identify, analyse and address technical assistance needs, implementation problems or other aspects of the local context

Indicators:
  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: At least 5 participants who answered the survey marked this session as one of the most valuable.

  • Indicator: Participation – frequency and quality of the interventions / questions raised, contribution to group work

    Evidence: Questions raised include: - Were there any projects related to medical waste management included in the Secretariat summary? - As plastic waste is a crucial environmental problem, are there any technology transfer projects that Burkina Faso can benefit from in this regard? - How can Burkina Faso benefit from the REPIC programme? - What is the procedure to benefit from the programme on energy offered by Australia? - How can LDCs participate in the IP and Green Technology Innovation event?

  • Indicator: Responses to questionnaires and other written submissions – relevance, comprehensiveness, quality of the substance and form, respect of specifications

    Evidence: According to the survey, the session was rated as follows: 19% as unsatisfactory; 29% as satisfactory; 38% as successful; 14% as very successful Thus this session received a satisfactory/successful rate of 81% total.

Conclusion: This session was the longest one of the four areas of focus. The Secretariat opened this session by presenting the summary report on technology transfer in the area of environment. Presentations were also made by experts from the WTO Trade and Environment Division, US, Canada, Switzerland, UK and Australia. The participating developed country Members, in particular, provided an update of their respective 2020 report submitted. Switzerland also announced that an event on IP and Green Technology Innovation was being organized by the Friends of IP and Innovation (FOII).

Results: Fully

Technology transfer in the area of information and communication technologies

Date: 05/03/2021 Duration: 2 (h)

Number of participants: Men(18) / Women(7)

Objective: Objective 1: To enhance coordination between LDCs and their cooperation partners in support of technology transfer projects in line with existing and planned initiatives and specific LDC national priorities. Objective 2: To enhance the understanding of LDC priority areas for technological development. Objective 3: To exchange views about projects reported in TRIPS Article 66.2 reports, and to develop more effective means of using this transparency mechanism as a tool for development cooperation.

Category: Identify, analyse and address technical assistance needs, implementation problems or other aspects of the local context

Indicators:
  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: At least 5 participants who answered the survey marked this session as one of the most valuable.

  • Indicator: Participation – frequency and quality of the interventions / questions raised, contribution to group work

    Evidence: Questions raised include: - Why was there a notable absence of West African LDCs benefitting from technology transfer programmes in the area of ICT? - How can LDCs benefit from technology transfer in other fields without first having a solid ICT base?

  • Indicator: Responses to questionnaires and other written submissions – relevance, comprehensiveness, quality of the substance and form, respect of specifications

    Evidence: According to the survey, the session was rated as follows: 5% as unsatisfactory; 33% as satisfactory; 48% as successful; 14% as very successful Thus this session received a satisfactory/successful rate of 95% total.

Conclusion: The Secretariat opened this session by presenting the summary report on technology transfer in the area of ICT. Presentations were also made by experts from ITU and UNCTAD. There was a chat discussion on the need to develop an adequate ICT infrastructure, and to train and develop local skills. In essence, LDC participants acknowledged the importance of establishing an ICT base for technology transfer.

Results: Fully

Trade, technology transfer and economic growth

Date: 05/03/2021 Duration: 1 (h)

Number of participants: Men(18) / Women(7)

Objective: Objective 1: To enhance coordination between LDCs and their cooperation partners in support of technology transfer projects in line with existing and planned initiatives and specific LDC national priorities. Objective 2: To enhance the understanding of LDC priority areas for technological development. Objective 3: To exchange views about projects reported in TRIPS Article 66.2 reports, and to develop more effective means of using this transparency mechanism as a tool for development cooperation.

Category: Identify, analyse and address technical assistance needs, implementation problems or other aspects of the local context

Indicators:
  • Indicator: Participants opinion

    Evidence: At least 6 participants who answered the survey marked this session as one of the most valuable.

  • Indicator: Participation – frequency and quality of the interventions / questions raised, contribution to group work

    Evidence: Questions raised include: - How can LDCs benefit from programmes offered by other international organizations, such as WIPO?

  • Indicator: Responses to questionnaires and other written submissions – relevance, comprehensiveness, quality of the substance and form, respect of specifications

    Evidence: According to the survey, the session was rated as follows: 14% as unsatisfactory; 33% as satisfactory; 43% as successful; 10% as very successful Thus this session received a satisfactory/successful rate of 86% total.

Conclusion: Presentations were made by experts from the WTO Development Division and WIPO.

Results: Fully