IP/C/R/TC/GCC/4  
 
19 September 2023  
(23-6219)  Page: 1/13 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects  of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM  
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS  
COOPERATION COUNCIL FOR THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF 
At its meeting of  14-15 June 2023 , the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental 
organization observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial 
cooperation programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  
 
The present document reproduces the information which has been  received from the 
Cooperation  Council for the Arab States of the Gulf  (GCC) by means of a communication dated  
3 September  2023. 
 
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Introduction  
1.  GCC is an intergovernmental organization with membership of the following states: 
United  Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and 
State  of Kuwait.   
2.  According to Article 20 of the GCC Economic Agreement which states that mem ber States "shall 
develop programs encouraging talented individuals and supporting innovation and invention; 
cooperate in the field of intellectual property and develop regulations and procedures ensuring the 
protection of intellectual property rights; and  coordinate their relevant policies towards other 
countries, regional blocs and international and regional organizations', the GCC Secretariat General 
directs most of its technical cooperation activities to its member States.  
3.  This document presents a report on the main technical cooperation activities undertaken by the 
Secretariat General of the GCC -GCC Patent Office , either alone or in cooperation with other parties, 
from 1  September 2022 to 1 September 2023 which are relevant  to intellectual property issues, 
following the invitation of the Chair of the WTO Council for TRIPS to provide updated information on 
such activities.  
4.  Technical assistance activities undertaken by the GCC secretariat General or in cooperation with 
other p arties during the above -mentioned period has been focused on various concrete IP aspects. 
These activities were conducted in the form of workshops, on -job training, and secondment or 
through supporting the participation in conferences or in international I P exhibitions. The said 
activities are listed in the Annex below.  
 
  
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- 2 - ANNEX1 
Name of programme or project  Patent Applications Drafting and Searching in Patent databases  
Date and end date  5 September 2022 - 5 September 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Oman  
Brief description  The Patent Application Drafting and Searching in Patent Databases is a specialized 
training program in patent field highlighting the general rules in patent drafting 
and novelty searching in patent databases.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Patent sp ecialists from Sultanate of Oman and some GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC and patent competent authority in Sultanate of Oman  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing their capabilities to how to draft the patent application and the 
mechanism of searching for what was previously published among the prior art.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  Trademark Examination Program  
Date and end date  12 September 2022 - 12 September 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  The State of Kuwait  
Brief description  The GCC Intellectual Property Training Center  held a program on how to examine 
trademarks according to the GCC Trademark Law, in cooperation with the Egyptian 
trademark competent authority.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC and Egyptian trademark competent authority  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing the examiner’s capability on trademark examination.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
 
1 In English only .  
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- 3 - Name of programme or project  Novelty Search for Pharmaceutical Patent Applications  
Date and end date  14 September 2022 - 14 September 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain  
Brief description  The GCC -IPTC held a program on how to conduct a novelty search for 
pharmaceutical patent applications, in cooperation with the patent competent 
authority in the kingdom of Bahrain and Norwegian Patent office.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Patent ex aminers from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC and Norwegian Patent Office  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing the novelty search capability in pharmaceutical patent applications.   
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme o r project  Trademark Offices Management  
Date and end date  19 September 2022 - 19 September 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain  
Brief description  The GCC -IPTC held a program on management of the trademark offices, in 
cooperation with the competent authority in the kingdom of Bahrain and Norwegian 
trademark authority.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Trademark specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC and Norwegian trademark authority  
Outputs or impact  It aims to provide participants with information and knowledge related to the 
management of the Trademarks Departm ent, giving the participants a full 
understanding of how the National Trademark Office develops and operates.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 4 - Name of programme or project  Information Exchange on AI Innovations.  
Date and end date  21 September 2022 - 22 September 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  How GCC member States and their Intellectual Property Offices support and 
enhance innovation in artificial intelligence  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WIPO  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing awareness of innovation in the field of artificial intelligence  
Website for further information  www.wipo.int  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  Intellectual Property as a Tool for the Development of Small and Medium 
Enterprises, and Intellectual Property in Digital Content  
Date and end date  4 October 2022 - 5 October 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  The GCC -IPTC in cooperation with the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, 
held a workshop entitled "Intellectual Property  as a Tool for the Development of 
Small and Medium Enterprises " and "Intellectual Property in Digital Content ". 
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC 
Outputs or impact  Raising awareness on the challenges facing intellectual property rights in the digital 
age, and the role of intellectual property in enhancing the competitiveness of small 
and medium enterprises.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 5 - Name of programme or project  Bank Al Jazira Innovation Support Program (Creators)  
Date and end date  10 October 2022 - 10 October 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Brief description  Workshop aims to support the innovators and inventors students.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Group of school students  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC Patent Office  
Outputs or impact  Highlighting the importance of IP and encouraging the students to invent and 
innovate and protect their rights.  
Website for further information  www.bankaljazira.com   
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  A Campaign to Enhance Awareness of Intellectual Property among 
schools’ Students  
Date and end date  6 November 2022 - 6 March 2023 
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  the State of Kuwait  
Brief description  The GCC -IPTC has launched a campaign to enhance awareness of intellectual 
property among schools ' students in cooperation with the Kuwait Oil Company, the 
Kuwait National Lib rary and the Ministry of Education in the State of Kuwait.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Schools ' students - State of Kuwait  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC, the Kuwait Oil Company, the Kuwait National Library and the Ministry 
of Education in State of Kuwait  
Outputs or impact  Increasing awareness and knowledge of the role and importance of the different 
types of Intellectual Property rights.  
Websit e for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 6 - Name of programme or project  International Virtual Conference on Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, 
Technology and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem  
Date and end date  15 November 2022 - 17 November 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  International Virtual Conference on Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, Technology 
and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem aims to bring leading practitioners, academic 
scientists, resea rchers, and industry experts together.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Public  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  Ecosystem Consultants - Kuwait  
Outputs or impact  Exchanging and sharing the experiences, ideas, and research results about 
innovation, a rtificial intelligence, technology, entrepreneurship ecosystem.  
Website for further information  www.ecosystemconsultants.com  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  Examination of Patent Applications workshop  
Date and end date  20 November 2022 - 23 November 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  Workshop in the field of examination of patent applications, in cooperation with the 
World Intellectual Property Organization  (WIPO).  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Examiners from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WIPO  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing patent examination capability of patent examiners from GCC member 
States.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org    
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 7 - Name of programme or project  Intellectual Property for Judicial Authority  
Date and end date  21 November 2022 - 23 November 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  The GCC -IPTC in cooperation with the National Institute of Industrial Property in 
France, held a specialized program for officials from the judicial authorities at the 
GCC member states.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialized judges from GCC member states  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC and the French National Institute of Industrial Property  
Outputs or impact  To enhance the capabilities of the participating judges to understand  the different 
nature and experiences of litigation in various fields of intellectual property.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for furth er information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  Lessons Learned and Best Practices Related to Intellectual Property in 
the Arab Region  
Date and end date  5 December 2022 - 6 December 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  Workshop on the role of modern intellectual property systems in promoting 
innovation  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WIPO  
Outputs or impact  Provide an opportunity for representatives of the intellectual property offices to 
enhance their capacity in IP ecosystem.  
Website for further information  www.wipo.int   
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 8 - Name of programme or project  Intellectual Property and Vaccines during Global Pandemic  
Date and end date  5 December 2022 - 6 December 2022  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  Seminar about the role of Intellectual Property in reaching to new vaccines and 
other therapeutic medicines.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC-IPTC, W IPO, WHO and WTO  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing the knowledge regarding the relationship between IP rights and new 
medicines and vaccines.   
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for furth er information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  High Growth Technology Business Forum 2023: Funding Growth  
Date and end date  1 January 2023 - 1 January 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  This forum highlights the key role played by IPR (intellectual property rights) 
portfolios and strategy in attracting investments and increasing company value. 
The featur ed live case study will be discussed from the perspective of both founders 
and investors.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  European Patent Office (EPO)  
Outputs or impact  Learn strategies for attracting investments and increasing company value with the 
help of intellectual property rights.  
Website for further information  www.epo.org   
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 9 - Name of programme or project  The third session of the Asian Intellectual Property Dialogue  
Date and end date  31 January 2023 - 1 January 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  The dialogue aims to provide an opportunity to exchange views and information on 
intellectual property policy, including patents, and emerging trends in the field of 
intellectual property, and to identify best practices in the use of the intellectual 
property system in order to enhance aspects of development, in addition to Explore 
possible areas of cooperation.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WIPO, JPO and Arab League.  
Outputs or impact  Discussing the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IP on Small and 
Medium -sized Enterprises (SMEs) and the future of IP in the digital era.  
Website f or further information  www.wipo.int  , www.jpo.org   
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  The thirteenth International Exhibition of Inventions in the Middle East  
Date and end date  12 February 2023 - 15 February 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  The General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, 
represented by t he Patent Office, participated in the 13th International Exhibition 
of Inventions in the Middle East, the selection of inventors from citizens of the 
GCC countries to participate in this international exhibition is done by a specialized 
team of arbitrators  in the GCC Patent Office to choose the best among the 
inventions that have been submitted .  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Public  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  The Kuwait Science Club, Kuwait  
Outputs or impact  Provide supports to inventors from the GCC States.  
Website for further information  www.ksclub.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 10 - Name of programme or project  Malaysian International Exhibition of Inventions ITEX23  
Date and end date  11 May 2023 - 12 May 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  The General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, 
represented by the Patent Office, hosted inventors from each GCC member states 
to participate at the Malaysian International Exhibition of Inventions ITEX23 to 
encourage them and contribute to the marketing of their inventions .  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Inventors from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  ITEX23, Malaysia  
Outputs or impact  Provide support to inventors from the GCC memb er states.  
Website for further information  www.itex.com.my  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  An introductory lecture on the Patent Office at the GCC General Secretariat  
Date and end date  15 May 2023 - 15 May 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Brief description  The GCC Patent Office presented an introductory session on the GCC Patent Law 
and work at the GCC Patent Office to the students of college of Law at King Saud 
University.  
Bene ficiary institution or audience  King Saud University - Riyadh  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC Patent Office  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing the students ' knowledge on Intellectual Property and its different legal 
rights.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 11 - Name of programme or project  Search Matters 2023 Conference  
Date and end date  23 May 2023 - 25 May 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  The aim of this conference is to fostering innovation by sharing patent knowledge 
and supporting innovators in finding technologies that contribute to a smarter, 
safer and more sustainable world.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists  from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  European Patent Office (EPO)  
Outputs or impact  Finding out the best search strategies for more sustainable world.  
Website for further information  www.epo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  Business Visit to IP Authority in State of Qatar  
Date and end date  15 June 2023 - 15 June 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Qatar  
Brief description  To offer the services provided by the Patent Office at the GCC, as stipulated in 
Article 1 bis 1 of the GCC Patent Law (05 January 2021) in addition to electronic 
linkage between the two sides.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Patent authority at the State of Qatar  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC Patent Office  
Outputs or impact  The Patent authority at the State of Qatar has authorized the GCC Patent Office to 
receive, formally check and technically examine national Patent applications 
starting from 1 July 2023.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 12 - Name of programme or project  The fourth GCC Virtual Conference to Support Ecosystem Innovation, 
Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Entrepreneurship  
Date and end date  20 June 2023 - 22 June 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Bahrain; the State of Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 
United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  It aims to bring leading practitioners, academic scientists and researchers together.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Specialists from GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  Ecosystem Consultants - Kuwait.  
Outputs or impact  Exchanging and sharing experiences, ideas about innovation and artificial 
intelligence, entrepreneurship ecosystem in the GCC region.  
Website for further information  www.ecosystemconsultants.com   
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
Name of programme or project  Paralegal training program for Patent Examination  
Date and end date  17 July 2023 - 30 July 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Brief description  The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, in cooperation with the US Patent and 
Trademark Office, conducted the semi -regiona l training program for patent 
examination.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  GCC Patent Office and Patents Offices in the GCC member States  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  The US Patent and Trademark Office  
Outputs or impact  Enhancing the examination capability of the patent examiners.  
Website for further information  www.saip.gov.sa  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
  
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- 13 - Name of programme or project  Supporting the Young Inventors Laboratory in the State of Kuwait  
Date and end date  26 July 2023 - 26 July 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  the State of Kuwait  
Brief description  The Patent Office at GCC General Secretariat conducted a workshop to support and 
encourage young Inventors.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  The Young Inventors Laboratory – State of Kuwait  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  GCC Patent Office  
Output s or impact  Enhancing their capabilities to come up with new ideas and solutions.  
Website for further information  www.gccpo.org  
Contact point for further information  GCC Patent Office  
 
 
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