Intellectual property plays an increasingly important role as a key determinant of economic growth and competitiveness particularly as countries seek to develop technological capacity and promote innovation. However for this to be successful there must be a comprehensive understanding of the role and importance of IP both by policy makers and respective experts, particularly in view of the impact of IP rules on many public policy areas such as health, bio-diversity, environment and access to knowledge. This serves as the objective of the two-week colloquium for teachers of IP jointly organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization from 30 June to 10 June 2008.

The goal of this forum is to give lawyers, economists or other university teachers working in the field of IP the opportunity to update their knowledge of the activities and instruments of WIPO and the WTO and to provide an environment for an exchange of information, in particular on teaching methodologies.

In light of this initiative, the International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the Quaker UN Office (QUNO) facilitated a dialogue between IP professionals and Geneva-based IP country negotiators. The event served as an opportunity for participants at the WTO-WIPO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property to meet informally with the Geneva-based community working on intellectual property issues.

The purpose of the dialogue is to provide an informal setting in which academic stakeholders, who will influence IP policymaking, to discuss developments in IP negotiations and processes, particularly at the WTO and WIPO, as well as positions adopted by countries in these fora.