For further information, please refer to the policy papers and agenda in the documentation.

In response to the Lake Victoria Commonwealth Climate Change Action Plan, discussions by Commonwealth Finance Ministers in October 2007, and the outcome of the Informal Meeting of Trade Ministers on Climate Change on the occasion on the 2007 UN climate conference in Bali, Indonesia, ICTSD and the Commonwealth Secretariat are implementing an initiative to explore new and rapidly emerging policy concerns that need to be considered by trade, finance and climate policy-makers and stakeholders in developing countries, to ensure that their economies are ready to address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities. This work will support developing country members of the Commonwealth – including the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, small and vulnerable economies (SVEs) and least-developed countries (LDCs) – in understanding the opportunities and challenges they face and make informed and strategic decisions.

The overall purpose of this meeting is to consider and explore such opportunities. The meeting will bring together trade, finance and climate change negotiators and policy-makers, experts, as well as representatives of the private sector and civil society at large for two days to review and discuss a series of draft studies on the climate and trade issues developing countries are facing, with a view to address the challenges that climate change presents and take advantage of new opportunities in a well-informed manner.

The outcome of the meeting will be submitted for consideration to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers in October 2008.

For further information, please refer to:

The Agenda, Mauritius

The Logistical Note, Mauritius

The Complete Policy Paper, Mauritius

Specifically, the purpose of the Post-2012 Climate and Trade Policies workshop is threefold:

• to examine potential key elements of a future climate regime that have implications for the international trading system;
• to discuss various approaches through which the world trade regime can address or otherwise affect climate change in a post-2012 world; and
• to explore opportunities for synergistic interplay between the negotiating agendas of both regimes, i.e. the Doha Agenda and the Bali Road Map.

For further information, please refer to the website at www.unep.ch/etb/events/2008_Post-2012ClimateTradePoliciesSept08_09.php.

The development, application and transfer of technology are core elements in the implementation of MEAs. The Symposium aims to foster a better understanding of the types of IP issues that may arise in the context of the implementation of MEAs. It will further build on previous work on patent landscaping and highlight the use of patent information tools and their usefulness in identifying technological developments of relevance to the environment and in facilitating the transfer of appropriate technologies within the context of MEAs. Another objective of the event is to promote a better understanding of the potential benefits as well as the limitations of IP rights in supporting technology transfer under MEAs.

WIPO’s Symposia on Life Sciences and Intellectual Property Policy aim to enhance understanding of topical issues of concern to policymakers by providing a forum for stakeholders (including international policymakers, government agencies, legislators, delegates, civil society and the private sector) to exchange information and ideas on intellectual property as it relates to the life sciences. They are designed to promote better understanding of the role and practical importance of the intellectual property system to the life sciences and its potential in supporting the development of public policy within this rapidly evolving field. They are explicitly not aimed at assessing or influencing discussions in any other forum and will not produce any formal outcome.

The event is open to the general public and is free-of-charge. Anyone interested in attending the meeting is requested to complete the on-line registration form.

A2K3 will bring together scholars, policymakers, industry, and civil society to discuss key issues in global knowledge policy.  Topics will include: the history, impact, and future of the global A2K movement; the relationship between A2K and human rights; A2K and the WIPO Development Agenda; the impact of international trade rules on A2K; copyright exceptions and limitations in the information society; open business models; research and capacity building for A2K; prizes as alternatives to intellectual property monopolies; promoting open access to science and research; technologies of access such as community wireless, open source, and open standards; and public mobilization in the networked and digital global public sphere.

Miguel Rodriguez, Senior Fellow at ICTSD, will be the moderator of the panel on A2K and tnternational trade and Ahmed Abdel Latif, Programme Manager for IP and Sustainable Sevelopment, will moderate the panel on A2K and the WIPO Development Agenda.  
 
The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) is one of the organizers of A2K3.

This year’s A2K conference coincides with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) annual assemblies, being held in Geneva later that month.

The A2K3 conference is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required and will be available at http://isp.law.yale.edu/

The goal of this forum is to give lawyers, economists or other university teachers working in the field of IP the opportunity to update their knowledge of the activities and instruments of WIPO and the WTO and to provide an environment for an exchange of information, in particular on teaching methodologies.

In light of this initiative, the International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the Quaker UN Office (QUNO) facilitated a dialogue between IP professionals and Geneva-based IP country negotiators. The event served as an opportunity for participants at the WTO-WIPO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property to meet informally with the Geneva-based community working on intellectual property issues.

The purpose of the dialogue is to provide an informal setting in which academic stakeholders, who will influence IP policymaking, to discuss developments in IP negotiations and processes, particularly at the WTO and WIPO, as well as positions adopted by countries in these fora.

 List of Participants

 1. Mohamed Abdelouahab BEDRI, High Institute of Banking, Algeria

2. Claricce M. M  CASTRO, Catholic Univeristy of Pernambuco, Brazil

3. Emmanuel KAM YOGO, University of Douala, Cameroon

4. Yu Xiang, University of Science and Technology, China

5. Fleur CLAESSENS, ICTSD, Geneva/Netherlands

6. Gabriel Ricardo NEMOGÁ-SOTO, National University of Colombia, Colombia

7. Federico VALERIO DE FORD, Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Costa Rica

8. Zerisenay HABETEZION, University of Asmara, Eritrea

9. Fikremarkos Merso BIRHANU, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

10. M. HAWIN, Gaadjah Mada University, Indonesia

11. Yoav MAZEH, Ono Academic College, Israel

12. Rodrigo LANUZA, SELCO Business and Administration Consultancy in IP, Mexico

13. Temitope YEROKUN-OLOKO, Lagos State University, Nigeria

14. Santiago ROCA, ESAN University, Peru

15. Setthabut ITTITHUMWINIT, Kasetsart, Thailand

16. Ayse Saadet ARIKAN, KOC University Law School, Turkey

17. Gileni GOMEZ MUCI, Universidad, Venezuela

18. PHAM Duy Nghia, Viet Nam National University, Viet Nam

19. Sisule MUSUNGU, IQSensato, Geneva

20. Jimcall PFUMORODZE, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

21. Paul SUDGEN, Monaash University, Australia

22. Fanny KOLEVA, University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria

23. Pedro ROFFE, ICTSD, Geneva/Chile

24. Marie CARPENTIER, Lassale College, Canada

25. Camille RUSSELL, ICTSD, Geneva/Barbados

26. Ahmed ABDEL LATIF, ICTSD/Eygpt

27. David ZAFAR AHMED, QUNO, Geneva/UK

29. Ahmed Abdel Latiff, Internation Centre For Trade and Sustainable Development

Developing countries, in general, see technology transfer as part of the bargain in which they agreed to strengthened intellectual property protection under the TRIPS Agreement. The TRIPS Agreement includes a number of specific provisions in this regard. Most notably, Article 66.2 requires developed countries to provide incentives for to enterprises and institutions in their territories for the purpose of promoting and encouraging technology transfer to LDCs in order to enable them to create a sound and viable technological. LDCs have expressed their wish to see this requirement to be implemented in a more effective manner.

Prof. Dominique Foray, a leading economist on knowledge and innovation from l’Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, will present the results of a report entitled “Technology Transfer in the TRIPS Age - The Need for New Types of Partnerships between the Least Developed and Most Advanced Economies”. The report explores ways to improve technology transfer to LDCs and focuses on the need for public-private partnerships to achieve this (attached is a summary of the report).

List of Participants
1 Kiyoshi ADACHI, UNCTAD
2 Juliette ANCELLE, IP Watch
3 Syed Ali ASAD, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN
4 Alain AUMONIER, Sanofi-Aventis
5 Thiru BALASUBRAMANIAM, KEI
6 Sergio BALIBREA, Delegation of the European Commission to the International Organisations in Geneva
7 Ravi BHATTARAI, Permanent Mission of Nepal to WTO
8 Paolo BOIFANI, Consultant
9 Daniel BIRCHMEIER, SECO
10 Esteban BURRONE, WIPO
11 Fleur CLAESSENS, ICTSD
12 Michaela DODINI, European Commission
13 Lessie DORE, Quaker UN Office in Geneva
14 Igbal ELAMIN, Permanent Mission of Sudan to the UN
15 Marwan ELKHOURY, UNCTAD
16 Madeleine ERIKSSON, IFPMA
17 Moutairou FADILOU, Permanent Mission of Benin to the UN
18 Prof. Dominic FORAY, University of Lausanne
19 Carlos GARBANZO, Permanent Mission of Costa Rico to the UN
20 Patriota GUILHERME, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the WTO
21 Sandy HARNISCH, UNCTAD
22 Cristina HERNANDEZ, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the WTO
23 Arno HOLD, Swiss Institute of Intellectual Property
24 Motaher HUSSAIN, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the WTO
25 Susan ISIKO, Geneva University
26 Elly KAMAHUNGYE, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the WTO
27 Roger KAMPF, WTO
28 Mariane LAMBERT, European Commission
29 Ahmed Abdel LATIF, ICTSD
30 Michael LIM, UNCTAD
31 Mothae MARUPING, Permanent Mission of Lesotho to the UN
32 Malebona Precious MATSOSO, WHO
33 Wolf R. MEIER-EWERT, WTO
34 Suerie MOON, Harvard University
35 Mapheko MOTHETSI, Permanent Mission of Lesotho to the UN
36 Sisule MUSUNGU, IQSensato
37 Anayawa MUTEMWA, WTO
38 Tu NGUYEN, WTO
39 Márcia Aribela PEREIRA, IQSensato
40 Andre du PLESSIS, CIEL
41 Chita RADHAKISHUN, UNCTAD
42 Pedro ROFFE, ICTSD
43 Camille RUSSELL, ICTSD
44 Catherine SAEZ, IP Watch
45 Dalindyebo SHABALALA, CIEL
46 Sangeeta SHASHIKANT, Third World Network
47 Yusong CHEN, Permanent Mission of China to the WTO
48 Viviane Minoz TELLEZ, South Centre
49 Michelangelo TEMMERMAN, WTI
50 Oline TWISS, CIEL
51 Rene URUENA, CIEL
52 Gina VEA, WHO
53 Lucas VON WATTENWILL, Swiss Institute of Intellectual Property
54 Jayaslire WATAL, WTO
55 David Ahmed ZAFAR, ICTSD

Beginning in 2006, the joint project developed a methodological framework for assessing the impact of TRIPS-Plus provisions contained in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on the price of medicines. The objective is to offer guidance to governments (e.g., trade and health ministries), research institutes as well as civil society organizations, in empirically evaluating the effects of these new IP obligations. Such a methodology can serve several purposes, including: (i) strengthening the overall negotiating capacity of governments in FTA negotiations; (ii) identifying areas where flexibilities in negotiations on new IP standards may be warranted; and (iii) identifying areas where complementary policies may help alleviate possible adverse public health implications of TRIPS-plus standards.

The 2-day meeting will take stock of the Project and will be important in the further fine-tuning and development of the methodology and its applications in Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

List of Participants
1. German Velasquez, WHO
2. Gina Vea, WHO
3. Joan Rovira, Technical Coordinator of the Project on Monitoring the Impact of IP Protection on Public
Health
4. Nusaraporn Kessomboon, WHO
5. Joan Costa, London School of Economics (LSE)
6. Carsten Fink, Groupe Economie Mondiale, Sciences Po
7. Charles Clift, DFID
8. Magdalena Rathe, Fundacion Plenitud, Dominican Republic
9. Greivin Hernandez, CINPE, Costa Rica
10. Kiyoshi Adachi, UNCTAD
11. Miguel Cortes, Colombia
12. Shilpa Modi, India
13. Marcelo Olarreaga, University of Geneva
14. Jaume Vidal, WHO/PAHO
15. Francisco Rossi, IFARMA
16. Carlos Casacuberta, WBI
17. Jean-Christophe Maur, WBI
18. Tenu Afavia, UNDP
19. Cecilia Oh, UNDP
20. Pedro Roffe, ICTSD
21. David Vivas, ICTSD
22. Ahmed Abdel Latif, ICTSD
23. Fleur Claessens, ICTSD

The key objective of the Dialogue is to examine the main proposals on intellectual property (IP) issues made to CEMAC countries and other African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in current EPA negotiations, as well as to contribute to develop a positive agenda for CEMAC countries in those negotiations. In order to achieve this, the dialogue will address the following themes: recent trends in IPRs in a multilateral and regional context; traditional knowledge; geographical indications; copyright in the digital environment; innovation and technology transfer and enforcement matters. The Dialogue will focus on setting a positive IP agenda specifically tailored to the needs of CEMAC, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and São Tomé and Príncipe.

More specifically, the Regional Dialogue aims to:

Provide a platform for strategic discussion between relevant stakeholders (including capital-based policy makers, regional and local based negotiators, experts, civil society and relevant institutions and organisations) in the region, in order to share experiences and increase awareness on trends at the multilateral level, and in recent EPA negotiations, regarding IP and its implications for sustainable development;

- Provide substantive inputs in order to facilitate understanding of the impact of potential IP obligations in a future EPA between the EU and CEMAC Countries;

- Analyse the draft proposals presented by the EU to the ACP countries, e.g. COMESA and SADC and the recently signed agreement with CARIFORUM. This will assist CEMAC countries in preparing their proposals for negotiations;

- Work with CEMAC negotiators in identifying offensive and defensive IP issues and in preserving public interest flexibilities in the negotiation process;

- Develop a positive agenda tailored to CEMAC needs in four specific issue-areas including: 1) traditional knowledge; 2) geographical indications; 3) copyright in the digital environment 4) innovation and technology transfer; and 5) enforcement matters.The dialogue will bring together key stakeholders of the region involved in the EPA negotiations and will be conducted as an open and informal process.

List of Participants

1. Mr Bernard NJONGA,  - Cameroun Président de l’Association Citoyenne de Défense des Intérêts Collectifs (ACDIC) Cameroun

2. Mr Jacob Kotcho BONGKWAHA, Association Citoyenne de Défense des Intérêts Collectifs (ACDIC) - Cameroun

3. Mr Ahmed ABDEL LATIF, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) - Égypte

4. Mr Aristide EBANG ESSONO, Conseiller Régional de l’OIF auprès de la CEMAC - République Centrafricaine

5. Mme Chantal ELOMBAT, Conseiller Technique du Ministère des Finances du Cameroun, Présidente du Comité National de Suivi et de Coordination des Négociations APE - Cameroun

6. Dr El Hadji DIOUF, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) - Senegal

7. Mr Désiré LOUMOU, Président de l’Association pour la Promotion de la Propriété Intellectuelle en Afrique - Cameroun

8. Mr Papa Algaphe THIAM, Consultant - Senegal

9. Dr Stéphanie,  NGO MBEM

10. Dr Christophe SEUNA, Chair UNESCO en Propriété Intellectuelle, Enseignant à l’Université de Yaoundé II - Cameroun

11. Mr Musa USMAN NDAMBA, MBOSCUDA - Cameroun

12. Mme Fleur CLAESSENS, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) - Pays-Bas

13. Mr Malem TIDZANI, Membre du Comité national APE, Directeur Général du Centre de Propriété Intellectuelle du Gabon

14. Dr Uma SUTHERSANEN, University of London - Royaume Uni

15. Mr Alexis EYANGO MOUEN Country Coordinator Consortium of Cameroon University and Research Libraries (COCUREL) - Cameroun

16. Mme Françoise EKANI, Université de Yaoundé II - Cameroun

17. Mr Aristide KPENGA, Directeur de la Structure Nationale de Liaison de la Propriété Intellectuelle de la République Centrafricaine

18. Mr Malcolm SPENCE, Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery - Barbados

19. Mr Maurice BATANGA, Chef de Service de la Coopération et des Affaires Juridiques OAPI - Cameroun

20. Mr Justin NGUEREOL, Chef de Service de la Documentation et de l’Information à la Direction des Etudes du Ministère du Commerce du Tchad et Rapporteur du Comité National des Négociations des APE - Tchad

21. Mr Jorge BONFIM

22. Mr IBONGYA ELIMA Evariste, Directeur à l’Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC), Secrétaire Rapporteur Général du Forum National de Développement et de Politique Commerciale (FNDPC), (Comité National des Négociations Commerciales) - République Démocratique du Congo

23. Mme TSHILENGUI wa KABAMBA, République Démocratique du Congo

24. Mr KOLI Timothée PASSE, Chargé de Mission en Matière d’Industrie Secrétaire Permanent du Comité National de Négociations Commerciales - République Centrafricaine

25. Mr Julio ONDO NDEMESSOGO, Coordonateur du Comité National de Négociations des APE - Guinée Equatoriale

26. Mr Carlos BONFIM, Directeur du Commerce de la CEEAC - Gabon

27. Mme Eugenie MVEY, Membre du Comité national APE, Directeur de la Réglementation, du Contrôle et de la Normalisation au Ministère du Commerce du Gabon

28. Mr Alphonse OKOYE, Négociateur en Chef APE - Congo

29. Mr Joseph MOUZINGOULA, Congo Directeur du Commerce Sao Tome & Principe - Sao Tome & Principe

30. Mme Jacqueline MONODZANA,  Sous Directeur du Développement Technologique, Ministère de l’Industrie du Cameroun

31. Dr Maximin EMAGNA, Conseiller Technique CNSCN APE - Cameroun

32. Mr Martin ABEGA, Secrétaire Exécutif Groupement Inter Patronal du Cameroun

33. Mme Yvonne TAKANG, Secrétaire Permanent Adjoint ACDIC, Chargée de la Communication - Cameroun

34. Mme Mary Concilia ANCHANG ONAMBELE-ANCHANG & ASSOCIATES - Cameroun

35. Ministère de la Santé du Cameroun

36. Ministère du Commerce du Cameroun Consultante

The event will attempt to address the broader issue of developing criteria for the grant of drug patents, specifically balancing protection of intellectual property rights and concerns of access to health. The consultation will focus on the various types of claims that subsist in the context of pharmaceutical patents. The event will also examine the mechanisms for examination of pharmaceutical patents from a public health perspective.

There has been increasing interest about how international trade agreements and intellectual property rights can limit access to medicines. The interaction between trade, IP, and access to medicines has led to the adoption of the Doha Ministerial Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health. This Declaration affirmed that the TRIPS Agreement should be interpreted and implemented in a manner that allows for countries to take measures that protect public health and promote access to medicines.

Patents, and IPRs, are often said to promote innovation and R&D of new medicines, but evidence shows that patents on genuinely new pharmaceutical products is limited. The majority of patents are granted to cover modifications to existing drugs. Similarly, the majority of pharmaceutical R&D today focuses on variations, not on the development of new entities. Changes regarding production and patenting of medicines will have large effects on the pharmaceutical industry and patent system.

Participants will place the discussion of patents in the context of public health and specifically the balance between IP protection and access to medicine. Also discussed will be TRIPS versus local flexibilities, and typical claims made during patenting of pharmaceutical products. Experiences and problems in Developed Countries will be presented and participants will also look at mechanisms that could enhance the examination of pharmaceutical patenting. The mechanisms include the opportunity for pre- and post-grant opposition to patents and rules and procedures of the examination of patent-applicants’ products.

List of Participants
Feroz Ali, Advocate
Arvind Bansal, NIPER
Kajal Bhardwaj, Lawyer
Manoj Chauhan, Human Rights Law Network
Adithyakrishna Chintapanti, Centad
Prof. Suchart Chongprasert, Food and Drug Administration, Thailand
Kieran Clancy, Human Rights Law Network
Carlos Correa, University of Buenos Aires
Kasturi Das, Centad
Deepu M, JNU
Biswajit Dhar, Centre for WTO Studies
Ms. Farida, Office of Intellectual Property Rights, Indonesia
K.M Gopakumar, Centad
Julie George, Lawyers Collective
Rohan K. George, Centad
Anand Grover, Lawyers Collective
Miranda House, Ravindra Jha
Aradhna Johri, Joint Secretary MOHFW
Reji K Joseph, WTO Centre, IIFT
K S Kardam, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
B.K Keayla, National Working Group on Patent Laws
Rajendra Mehrotra , MoHFW
Leena Menghaney , MSF Access Campaign
Joe Mathew, Business Standard
Anirban Mazumdar, National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS)
Bhavya Mehta, Global Institute of Intellectual Property
Nishara Mendis, University of Colombo
Gopakumar Nair, Gopakumar Nair Associates
Baburam Parajuli, Dept of Industries, Nepal
Chan Park, Lawyers Collective
D.P.S Parmar, Government of India
Manusika Rai, EDP,Bhutan
T. Ramakrishna, NLSIU, Bangalore
Amit Sengupta, Delhi Science Forum
Mira Shiva,
K Ravi Srinivas, RIS
Sadhana Srivastava, ADG, ICMR
Nirmalya Syam, Centad
Karin Timmermans, WHO
Gina Vea, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
 Prof. German Velasquez, World Health Organization
Niel Unamboowe, Attorney General’s Office, Colombo
V.K Unni, Nalsar, University of Law, Hyderabad
Vinod P V, Advocate