IP/C/W/655  
 
20 September  2019 
(19-6080) Page: 1/7 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATIO N ACTIVITIES:  
INFORMATION FROM MEM BERS  
SWITZERLAND  
The following communication, dated 16 September  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland.  
 
Communications from other developed country Members will be circulated as addenda to 
this document.  
 
 
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1.  Following the previous reports,1 the content of which remains relevant in terms of the aims and 
organisational aspects of technical cooperation, this year 's report describes the activities of the Swiss 
Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (hereafter "the IPI ") in the field of technical cooperation 
between 1  September 2018 and 31 August 2019 .2 Drafted along the same lines as the preceding 
reports, this document draws a distinction between multilateral and bilateral activities. It is the 
objective of the Swiss authorities to ensure optimal coordination of available resources, both at the 
multilateral and bilateral level, while avoiding duplication or the overlap of programmes.  
1  MULTILATERAL ACTIVIT IES - TECHNICAL COOP ERATION IN THE FRAME WORK OF 
THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL P ROPERTY ORGANIZATION  (WIPO) AND WORLD TR ADE 
ORGANIZATION (WTO)  
1.1  Free-of-Charge Searches for WIPO in Favour of Developing Countries  
2.  Since 1987, the IPI has been participating in the WIPO Patent Information Services for 
Developing Countries (WPIS), which WIPO set up and runs to handle individual requests for patent 
information (state -of-the-art search reports). Additionally, since 1 Jan uary 2011, the IPI has been 
participating in the International Cooperation on Examination (ICE) part of WPIS. The IPI thus not 
only provides "state-of-the-art search reports ", but also "search and examination reports ". These 
types of reports are provided t o facilitate national patent applications in the beneficiary countries. 
The programme supports the national patent offices in building up their competence in search and 
examination procedures, and helps to strengthen the patent system and legal certainty w orldwide . 
                                                
1 List of past reports : IP/C/W/12/Add.3 of 13 September 1995, IP/C/W/34/Add.2 of 17  September 
1996, IP/C/W/77/Add.3 of 30 September 1997, IP/C/W/109/Add.1 of 4 September 1998, IP/C/W/154/Add.2 of 
8 October 1999, IP/C/W/203/Add.1 of 13 September 2000, IP/C/W/306/Add.3 of 18 September 2001, 
IP/C/W/377/Add.9 of 24 January 2003, IP/C/W/408/Add.4 of 14 November 2003, IP/C/W/426/Add.2 of 8 
Septemb er 2004, IP/C/W/455 of 5 October 2005, IP/C/W/476 of 14 September 2006, IP/C/W/496 of 28 
September 2007, IP/C/W/514/Add.4 of 17  October 2008, IP/C/W/536/Add.3 of 20 October 2009, 
IP/C/W/550/Add.2 of 20 October 2010, IP/C/W/560/Add.5 of 14 October 2011, IP/ C/W/582/Add.4  of 25 
October 2012, IP/C/W/593/Add.5 of 4 October 2013, IP/C/W/593/Add.5 of 4 October 2014, IP/C/W/610/Add.3 
of 1 October 2015 IP/C/W/617/Add.2  of 14 October 2016,  and IP/C/W/632/Add.5 of 6 October 2017 and 
IP/C/W/647/Add.1 of 18 October 2018.  
2 Unless otherwise indicated.  IP/C/W/655  
 
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  3.  Between 1 September 201 8 and 31 August 201 9, the IPI conducted, at the request of WIPO, 
free-of-charge searches for the following countries:  
Country  Number of 
searches  
ICE-Searches:   
Djibouti  6 
Kenya  3 
Madagascar  4 
WPIS -Searches:   
- - 
Total  13 
2  BILATERAL ACTIVITIES  
2.1  Global Programme on Intellectual Property Rights  
4.  The Global Program for Intellectual Property Rights (GPIPR) is an international cooperation 
program me funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by 
the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI). The overall aim of GPIPR is to improve the 
IP regime in Switzerland 's partner countries. The topics of GPIPR c an include the following 
non-exhaustive categories:  
• IP policy, strategy and legislation;  
• Registration, good governance and improved administration of IPRs;  
• Acquisition and use of IPRs (in particular the  private sector and producer organizations);  
• Enforcement of IPRs;  and 
• Knowledge and technology transfer.  
5.  The GPIPR is running since end of 2018, the first activities implemented under the GPIPR are 
kept in the current report.   
2.2  China  
6.  During the reporting p eriod, a delegation of government officials from Zhongshan Intellectual 
Property Office  from China was welcomed at the IPI and introduced to the Swiss system of 
intellectual property rights protection .  
2.3  Colombia  
7.  The Colombian –Swiss Intellectual Property Pr oject (COLIPRI) Phase 2  is a cooperation project 
between the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Colombia. It is funded by the Swiss 
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) under the GPIPR Program me and implemented by the 
Swiss Federal In stitute of Intellectual Property (IPI). It has a duration of four years (2019 -2023) 
and a non -reimbursable contribution by SECO of CHF  1,489,000, plus in -kind contributions by the 
Government of Colombia.  
8.  The project 's overall objective is to contribute to entrepreneurs, creators, researchers and 
producers in Colombia benefitting from an improved intellectual property system.  IP/C/W/655  
 
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  9.  Three outcomes will contribute towards this overall objective:  
Outcome A: The national IP Policy is updated, implemented and enforced according to its action 
plan;  
Outcome B: Intellectual property rights (IPRs) registration and administration entities provide 
efficient and user -friendly services; and 
Outcome C: IPR e ntities, academia and private sector representatives promote acquisition, use 
and transfer of IPRs to potential users.  
10.  The first activities will be implemented in the next reporting period.  
2.4  Costa Rica  
11.  During the reporting period, the IPI held two workshops in Costa Rica:  
• Fifteen representatives from the Costa Rican IP office were trained on patents and the 
patentability of biotechnological inventions in September 2018.  
• Thirty -five representatives from start -ups, SMEs, SME counsels, university techn ology 
transfer offices and the Costa Rican IP office were trained on intellectual property and SMEs 
in October 2018.  
 
2.5  Ghana  
12.  The Swiss -Ghanaian Intellectual Property Project, Phase II (SGIP -II) was launched in 
January  2016. The project 's overall goal is to contribute to Ghana 's socio -economic development by 
promoting the use and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Like SGIP I, SGIP II is 
financed by the SECO, while the IPI serves as the implementing  agency for the project . 
13.  SGIP-II has four out come goals. The activities undertaken under each outcome during the 
reporting period are listed below : 
Outcome A: An enabling IP environment and an improved service provision for IP users  is in place : 
• The staff of the new Ghanaian Industrial Property Offic e (IPO) moved into their new premises 
in September 2018. The following training has been delivered to the staff in the new office:  
- November 2018: Industrial Designs  
- April/May 2019: Trademarks  
 
14.  Further training on patents is being planned and scheduled for delivery in October 2019.  
▪ In November 2018, a one -day training course on the basics of IP was delivered to select 
members of the Ghanaian Parliament in Accra.  
Outcome B:  Targeting research institutions and SMEs to increase the commercialisati on of their 
IPRs: 
▪ The project liaised with the Registrar General 's Department and WIPO in order to deliver a 
workshop on institutional intellectual property policies for research institutions and 
universities. This workshop w as delivered in October 2018  in Accra .  
▪ The project liaised with the Registrar General 's Department and WIPO in order to deliver a 
workshop entitled "National Workshop on Development of Institutional IP Policies and IP 
Valuation for Universities and Research Institutions ". This workshop  was delivered in 
May 2019 in Accra.  IP/C/W/655  
 
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  Outcome C:  Improving the protection and enforcement of IPRs for higher economic benefits for right 
holders and safeguarding consumers from substandard goods : 
▪ The project began the development of a Public Education and A wareness strategy with the 
Ghanaian Copyright Office. It is expected that the development of the strategy will be 
concluded during the next reporting period.  
▪ A study that will survey the economic impact of copyright on the Ghanaian economy was 
started in M ay 2018. This study is based on the WIPO methodology that was used for various 
similar studies during the past several years. The study has been concluded and the editing 
process is expected to be finalised in August 2019.  
▪ Training for customs officials wa s delivered in January/February 2019 by the World Customs 
Organization in Accra. This training entitled "Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, Health 
and Safety Workshop " concentrated on helping customs officials to identify pirated goods 
and to help them u nderstand the threat that they pose to the safety of the general public. 
This same training was delivered in June 2018 to another group of customs officials.  
▪ A final training session was held for the Police Criminal Investigations Departments (CID) in 
October 2018 in Accra. The training was designed to introduce the Police CID to the Ghanaian 
IP system and to show them how to conduct investigations into IP -related crimes.  
Outcome D:  Increasing the legal protection of GIs to better market traditional product s for the 
benefit of rural and artisanal communities : 
▪ Outreach to selected producers and potential trainers was conducted during the reporting 
period. It is expected that the work for GI registration will begin during the next reporting 
period.  
2.6  Indonesia  
15.  The second phase of the Indonesian -Swiss Intellectual Property Project (ISIP -II) started in 
May 2017 and focuses on  creative economy, capacity of the Directorate General of Intellectual 
Property (DGIP), and the development of the Geographical Indication sy stem. The project is financed 
by SECO and implemented by the IPI. The objectives respond to the priority of the Indonesian 
President to strengthen Indonesia 's creative economy sector. As for the GI component of the project, 
after focusing on the legal regi stration in phase one, phase two focuses on developing the value 
chain and market access for these producers. The following is a shortlist of major activities that have 
been implemented in the reporting period:  
Outcome A: Supporting, at policy level, the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property 
rights (IPRs) and the development of Indonesia 's creative economy . The following activities have 
been implemented:  
• Supporting the Literature CMO (PRCI) in setting up a member database, website, 
brochures and a promotional video on copyright in the literature sector.  
• Supporting the National Musik CMO (LMKN) and the eight other music CMOs in Indonesia 
in reaching a consensus on how to collect and redistribute royalties; legal assistance in 
drafting  of respective regulations.  
• Developing a manual on IPRs and IP capacity building for INNOPA (Innovation Promotion 
Agency).  
Outcome B: Technical and capacity -building assistance to the DGIP to better serve intellectual 
property rights (IPRs) users . The fol lowing activities have been implemented:  
• Training for Supreme Court judges on best practices in jurisdiction concerning trademark 
counterfeiting and falsification (with the anti -counterfeiting organisation MIAP);  
• Training on Design Policy und Design Ex amination for the DGIP; and  IP/C/W/655  
 
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  • Training on settling IP disputes by Alternative Dispute Resolution for the DGIP and 
developing guidelines on best practices of ADR.  
Outcome C: Strategic support to Indonesian GIs to sustainably increase their economic value an d 
reinforce the capacity of the GI producers association. The following activities have been 
implemented:  
• Academic and organisational input in setting up a GI curriculum at UNPAD University 
(training of trainers, counselling and expert advice);  
• Training on  improving production and post -harvest handling for Amed Salt GI;  
• Training on the operation of an MPIG secretariat (Amed Salt GI);  
• GI promotion video and marketing material finalised for Bajawa Coffee GI;  
• Training for the GI association on organisation and  services (Bajawa Coffee GI);  
• Two market studies for Bajawa Coffee GI and Sikka Ikat GI in Switzerland/Europe;  
• Registration of all three GI associations as legal entities and the development of a Code of 
Practice for all three GIs;  
• Capacity -building of the  MPIGs on GI management (all three GIs);  
• Providing support with the amendment and resubmission of the Book of Specifications of 
Sikka Ikat GI and Amed Salt GI to better respond to market demand;  
• Training on running an MPIG secretariat (Sikka Ikat GI);  
• Assistance with organising the Sikka Ikat GI Auction and three -day market place in Jakarta;  
and 
• Finalising websites for all three GIs and provide training on the effective use of websites for 
market access.  
 
2.7  Iran 
16.  The IPI held two seminars in Tehran on the topic of Intellectual Property Commercialization for 
Universities, Start -ups and Tech -parks. In these seminars, which were held from 3 to 5 February, 
and 15 to 16 of April 2019 respectively, numerous participants from different universities, start -ups 
and technology parks participated and benefitted from the lectures of IPI experts as well as external 
experts from Swiss universities.  
17.  While the first seminar mainly presented the subject of technology transfer conditions and IP 
commercialisation along with th e Swiss experiences and best practices, the second seminar focused 
more in depth on the entrepreneurial ecosystems, the financial, economic and social impacts of IP 
commercialisation, and the practical issues with regard to the relevant contracts and agree ments.  
18.  Currently, the Iranian – Swiss Intellectual Property Project (IRSIP) is being discussed with the 
Iranian counterpart  organisation with the aim of launching the project in 2020. The project envisages 
strengthening the Iranian intellectual property sy stem to improve business competitiveness and 
commercialisation of intellectual property assets and make a positive impact on Iran 's economic 
development.  
2.8  Myanmar  
19.  As part of the GPIPR, a project scoping mission has been conducted in Myanmar in May 2019 
to define possible assistance to Myanmar.  
2.9  Peru  
20.  As per June 2019, under the GPIPR Program Switzerland started a bilateral technical cooperation 
project with Peru, which has a duration of two -and-a-half years (until the end of 2021) and focuses 
on the following  topics:  
Component A: Increased Capacity of the Peruvian GI system and Improved Valuation of Peruvian 
Appellations of Origin Products.  
Component B: Increased Awareness of Creative Industry and Government Agencies on the Use of 
Copyright.  
Component C: Incre ased Awareness on Patentability and Patent Applications by the Private Sector.  IP/C/W/655  
 
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  21.  As a first activity under this project, the draft Regulation on Geographical Indications of Peru 
has been commented on.  
2.10  Philippines  
22.  As a part of the GPIPR in May 2019, a patent expert from the IPI participated as a trainer in the 
WIPO National Workshop on the Search and Examination of Inventions Related to Genetic Resources, 
held in Manila, Philippines. The IPI 's expert was funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic 
Affairs (SECO). The seminar trained 30 representatives from the Intellectual Property Office of the 
Philippines (IPOPHIL).  
2.11  Serbia  
23.  The second phase of the Serbian -Swiss Intellectual Property Project (SSIP II) was launched in 
July 2017. The project aims at streng thening the use of intellectual property rights in Serbia. This is 
in order to contribute to the achievement of higher competitiveness, to increase the added -value of 
Serbian products, and to positively impact on Serbia 's economic development . 
24.  The protecti on of GIs is of particular interest to the Government of Serbia.  
25.  Selecte d areas of cooperation include:  
• Increasing the demand of IP users to protect and capitalise on their IPRs;  
• Improving the legal and institutional framework as well as the enforcement of  GIs, in order 
to facilitate the economic and social benefits of producers and consumers; and  
• Strengthening capacities for the market valorisation of GI products to better market 
traditional products for the benefit of rural and artisanal communities.  
26.  The following activities were undertaken during the reporting period:  
Under Component A, "Improved GI legal and institutional framework to facilitate the economic and 
social benefits of GI producers and consumers ": 
▪ A comprehensive analysis on the status and potential of non -agricultural GIs including a 
legal and institutional capacity assessment; an inventory scan of the most potential products 
and their SWOT was concluded;  
▪ The guidelines for the implementation of the flexibility rules targeting food business  
operators, inspections and other small traditional producers of milk and dairy was completed, 
published and presented to the target group at the workshop ; and  
▪ Specialised experts financed by the project supported the certification process of a protected 
designation of origin "Zlatar Cheese " in the South of Serbia.  
Under Component B, "Strengthened capacities for market valorisation of GI products ": 
▪ Strategic busi ness plan for the Serbian Association of GI producers was approved at the 
general assembly of the organisation ; 
▪ Ongoing technical backstopping to the board and members of the GI Association Original in 
building their organisational capacities was delivered ; 
▪ A workshop for the Serbian GI Association with the President of the Swiss Association of PDO 
and PGIs took place in Belgrade in November 2018 ; 
▪ Participation of the Serbian GI Association on the promotion and marketing of events such 
as the Belgrade Food Show and the Christmas Market in Novi Sad in November 2018 and at 
the Belgrade Night Market in December 2018 ; IP/C/W/655  
 
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  ▪ Social media promotion and production of visual printed material for the group of selected 
GI products ; 
▪ Financing of a comprehensive marketing ana lysis on distribution channels and consumers ' 
expectation of GI products at the Serbian market ; and  
▪ Production of the promotional video about traditional food and non -food products in Serbia.  
Under Component C, "The demand of key IP users to protect and ca pitalise on their IPRs is 
increased ": 
▪ Joint International Conference in Belgrade on "Industry 4.0 " and awareness raising on the 
importance of having an IP strategy for start -ups with the Serbian Science and Technology 
Park in November 2018.   
 
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