The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) seeking applications from Female Entrepreneurs to participate in a WIPO Training, Mentoring and Matchmaking Program on Intellectual Property for Women Entrepreneurs from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.  The facilitators are seeking to select at least two participants from each of the seven geo-cultural regions recognized by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, namely (i) Africa; (ii) Arctic; (iii) Asia; (iv) Central, South-America and the Caribbean; (v) Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia, and Transcaucasia; (vi) North America; and (vii) the Pacific regions.

The Program,  which will be delivered through a training phase and a mentoring and matchmaking phase, will provide participants the opportunity to:

• build capacity in intellectual property and acquire the skills necessary for an effective use of the intellectual property system, including in the digital economy; 
• acquire basic knowledge of related fields useful in an entrepreneurial context, such as business modelling, marketing and digital storytelling;
• benefit from the support of a mentor to further develop and implement projects and businesses based on traditional knowledge and/or traditional cultural expressions that have an intellectual property component; and
• meet amongst Program participants, share and learn from each other’s experiences, but also meet potential partners who can provide support with the implementation of the intellectual property components of their projects and businesses.

Candidates should submit a duly filled application form through the following link: https://surveys.wipo.int/s3/enwomen-entrepreneurs by September 6, 2021. Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered. Successful candidates will be notified by email. If selected, candidates must confirm their participation and their commitment to participate in all phases of the Program.

Enquiries may be addressed at grtkf@wipo.int.