IP/C/W/610/Add.3  
 
1 October 2015  
(15-5082)  Page: 1/5  
Council for Trade-Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
 TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: 
INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS 
SWITZERLAND 
Addendum 
The following communication, dated 23 September 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland.  
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 1.  Following documents 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 Septem ber 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 September 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, and IP/C/W/601/Add.4 of 17 October 2014 in which 
much of the description of the aims and organisational aspects of technical cooperation remains relevant, this report describes the activities of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property 
(hereafter "the Institute") in the field of technical cooperation between 1 September  2014 and 31 
August  2015
1.  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 overlapping of programmes. 
1  MULTILATERAL ACTIVITIES - TECHNICAL COOPERATION IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 
WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO) AND WORLD TRADE 
ORGANIZATION (WTO) 
1.1  Free-of-Charge Searches for WIPO in Favour of Developing Countries  2.  Since 1987, the Institute has been participating in the "WIPO Patent Information Services for 
Developing Countries (WPIS)," which WIPO set up and operates for handling individual requests 
for patent information (state-of-the-art search reports).  Additionally, since 1 January 2011, the Institute has been participating in the "International Cooperation on Examination (ICE)" part of 
WPIS.  The Institute thus not only provides "state-of-the-art search reports", but also "search and 
examination reports".  These types of reports are provided to facilitate national patent applications in the beneficiary countries.  The programme supports the national patent offices in building up their competencies in search and examination pr ocedures and helps to strengthen the patent 
system and legal certainty worldwide. 
3.  Between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015,  the Institute conducted, at the request of 
WIPO, free-of-charge searches for the following countries: 
                                               
1 Unless otherwise indicated. IP/C/W/610/Add.3 
 
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  Country Number of 
searches 
ICE-Searches:  
Jordan 11 
Kenya 3 
Madagascar 3 
WPIS-Searches:  
- - 
Total  17 
 
 
2  BILATERAL ACTIVITIES 
2.1  Bangladesh 
4.  The Bangladeshi-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (BSIP) was approved by Switzerland in 
2011. Approval from Bangladesh, however, was left pending until 30 June 2015, at which time the dedicated project funds were forfeited and the project was cancelled accordingly. 
2.2  China 
5.  Six delegations of government officials from the P.R. China (from Beijing and provinces) were 
welcomed at the Institute and introduced to the Swiss system of intellectual property rights protection during the reporting period.  
2.3  Colombia 
6.  The Colombian–Swiss Intellectual Property Project (COLIPRI) started in early 2013 and will 
continue for four years. The overall goals of the project are higher competitiveness, more value 
added to Colombian products, and a positive impact on Colombia's social and economic 
development. The two direct beneficiaries of CO LIPRI are the Superintendence of Industry and 
Commerce (SIC) and the Ministry of the Interior of Colombia. The following activities have been undertaken within the reporting period: 
7.  In project component A on improved services of SIC to the IPR users, new business processes 
have been implemented, in particular in the trad emark division, and structural changes have been 
initiated: 
 A delegation of 10 staff from SIC Patent, Trademark and Technology search 
Departments conducted a study tour to the Institute and Swiss institutions to familiarize themselves with the Swiss IP system and its application in university research 
technology and knowledge transfer centres; 
 Continuous expert input was provided, leading to the IP Training Unit Aula de Propiedad 
Intelectual (API) now being a separate unit with a new strategy, a tailored budget and specific goals; and 
 A three-day “Train the Trainers” workshop was organized in April 2015 for IP trainers, 
trademark and patent examiners, and members of the copyright office. 
8.  In component B, on increased knowledge and technology transfer, activities are ongoing with 
different partners: the National Planning Department  (DNP) on drafting an innovation policy; with 
the national Science, Technology and Innovation Department Colciencias to support their technology transfer offices, and with the national confederation of chambers of commerce 
Confecámaras on the first innovation cluster around the touristic program of the Magdalena River: IP/C/W/610/Add.3 
 
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   Support for the drafting of the National Development Plan 2014-2018 section on 
innovation, drafting of a knowledge and technology transfer user's guide was provided as well as consolidated inputs for the national communication (CONPES) on science, technology and innovation; 
 A workshop with 8 regional chambers of commerce was conducted in September 2014 to 
define a regional cluster of innovation; and 
 Two 3-day workshops were organized with Colciencias and six technology transfer offices 
to strengthen regional knowledge and technology transfer in Colombia.  
9.  Under component C on strengthening the na tional Geographical Indications system, the 
following activities were conducted: 
 Two national consultants updated and clarified the existing GI registration system at 
SIC, especially the certification and quality control process in new applications; 
 Several participative workshops with the stakeholders of the guava paste Bocadillo 
veleño  value chain and a market study were conducted by international and national GI 
experts to prepare the product for its GI registration; 
 An exchange of experience with international consultants was organized for the national 
handicraft promotion board Artesanías de Colombia and a 4-day training on IP protection 
and marketing, with a field trip, was conducted for the 12 regional offices and the central 
team of Artesanías de Colombia; and 
 Upon request by Artesanías de Colombia, an introductory workshop on innovation 
systems and innovation clusters was held during one of the Swiss consultants' missions. 
10.  As for component D, on a national traditional knowledge protection policy, the following 
activities were implemented:  
 Two Ministry of Interior officials representing black and indigenous communities 
participated in a traditional knowledge protection seminar at WIPO in Geneva in June; 
 Articulation of stakeholders of an institutional and legal mapping of TK protection is 
ongoing. 
2.4  Ghana 
11.  A joint cooperation proposal was elaborated  and approved by the Swiss Government. This 
proposal is based on the results and lessons learnt during the first phase of the cooperation project “Strengthening the Intellectual Property rights  in Ghana 2009-2013”. The focus of the second 
phase will be on making businesses aware of the importance of protecting their IP assets, 
supporting the private sector to commercialise its intellectual property rights and establishing a National Intellectual Property Institution in Ghan a. The start of the Swiss-Ghana IPI Project in the 
second phase is targeted for October 2015. 
2.5  Indonesia 12.  The Indonesian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (ISIP) started in early 2012 for a term of 
four years. As the project is coming to an end (June 2016, incl. a non-cost extension), an external 
evaluation is currently being conducted. Depe nding on its outcome, and on the demand and 
interest of both the Indonesian Directorate Gene ral of Intellectual Property (DGIP) and SECO, a 
second phase might be envisaged. During the reporting period, the following activities were 
conducted: 
 A training session on IP negotiation skills was conducted for 25 members of DGIP and 
partner ministries by an international expert; IP/C/W/610/Add.3 
 
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   A letter with analysis of best practices, and a translated version of the recommendations 
of an international GI expert on the Indo nesian GI policy (2013) was submitted to the 
Director General of the DGIP in light of the revision of the national trademark/GI legislation towards a more practical oriented approach; 
 A one week attachment training for senior level patent examiners in the fields of 
chemistry, pharmaceuticals and bio-technology was implemented by the Royal Danish Patent and Trademark Office; 
 To promote public awareness and education, a cultural performance on IP awareness by 
a famous story teller was produced and disseminated; 
 On the level of concrete support  for selected GIs, a study tour to France for seven people 
from Indonesia (Amed Salt GI) was organize d. In return, a first successful two-week 
international expert mission to Amed Salt was conducted and, as a consequence, the 
producers submitted a first version of their Book of Requirements to the DGIP for GI registration; 
 After the mission of an international citrus fruit expert together with a national GI expert 
to Soe (Soe Mandarin GI), a first version of  the Book of Requirements of Soe Mandarin 
was handed in to the DGIP for GI registration; 
 The producer association of Sikka Ikat, the third proposed GI, has advanced 
considerably under the continuous support of an international and a national GI expert. The Book of Requirements is in its last revi sion before submission. The goal to submit a 
Book of Requirements has created considerable dynamics among local producers in 
defining the tradition of ikat and local culture in general; 
 The 3
rd training course on GI targeting producers' associations has been successfully 
implemented in Yogyakarta; 
 The 4th and last training course for selected producers' associations and government 
officials was implemented under the lead of an international expert; 
 This series of training sessions and workshops on Geographical Indications (GIs) in 2014 
and 2015 has resulted in the creation of th e Indonesian Association of Geographical 
Indications (IAGI), and it is envisioned that it will be further strengthened; 
 An international expert on TK/TCE has been mandated to analyse the Indonesian TK 
system and provide input on policy making level; 
 A three-day seminar on copyrights for performers and artists was held under the lead of 
an international expert. This activity contributed to the establishment of the national CMO as an umbrella organization of the different CMOs; and 
 A one-week tailor-made IP Public Education and Awareness Study Tour in Switzerland for 
10 participants of DGIP was organised, including a study tour to a GI (Gruyere) on how to promote and communicate the importance of IP for economic development. 
2.6  Pakistan 
13.  A delegation of government officials from Pakistan was welcomed at the Institute and 
introduced to the Swiss system of IT-manag ement of IPRs during the reporting period. 
 
2.7  Tajikistan 
14.  Following a request from the Tajik Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), and 
from the National Centre for Patents and Information (NCPI), a project proposal was developed in 
close cooperation with Tajik partners in 2012.  Th e Tajik-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (TSIP) 
was originally designed to be a three-year proj ect, with the goal of strengthening the Tajik IP/C/W/610/Add.3 
 
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  intellectual property rights system in line with the requirements of the TRIPS Agreement.  During 
the reporting period, the following activities were conducted:  
 IP Public Education and Awareness Study Tour in Switzerland for 10 representatives of 
the officials from the NCPI and repres entatives of the Chamber of Commerce, 
universities and business associations of Tajikistan (September 2014).  
 Training on enforcement of intellectual property at the border for 44 Tajik Customs 
officers in Dushanbe and Khatlon Province (April 2015).  
 Training on the brand management and intellectual property rights for 64 members of 
Chamber of Commerce and industry in Du shanbe and Sughd Province (May 2015); 
 Training on Tajik copyright and neighbouring  rights legislation for 50 copyright holders 
(June 2015). 
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this project is currently on hold. 
 
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