Director General Francis Gurry of World Intellectual Property Organization visits Tokyo Tech

Director General (DG) of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Francis Gurry visited Tokyo Tech to speak to a large audience consisting of members of Tokyo Tech and the public on February 1, 2017.

DG Gurry spoke to students, researchers, and engineers about the importance of collaborating with international organizations such as WIPO. WIPO's Assistant Director General (ADG) Yoshiyuki Takagi followed with a lecture on the significance of Japanese people working for international organizations based on his vast experience. DG Gurry and ADG Takagi then answered questions from the audience about the future trends in the international intellectual property (IP) system and working in international organizations.

After the lectures, DG Gurry and ADG Takagi joined a meeting with President Yoshinao Mishima and Executive Vice President for Research Makoto Ando. Mishima shared a brief overview of Tokyo Tech and the Institute's cooperation with industry, while DG Gurry expressed his respect for Tokyo Tech's industry liaison activities and IP applications. They exchanged views about the consistency of patent applications and research paper publications, particularly in Europe, and discussed future cooperation between WIPO and Tokyo Tech so that researchers can conduct research and innovation more in line with the IP policy framework that WIPO has established.

WIPO, the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation, is a self-funding agency of the United Nations with 189 member states.

Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

• World Intellectual Property Organization