During the course, participants meet experts from PRV, as well as other agencies, organizations and companies. In addition to intellectual property, topics such as international negotiation and project management are covered. The course also includes visits to organizations and companies that are actively working with intellectual property. Throughout the course, participants take part in round-table discussions, and exchange knowledge and experiences with each other.

The “Project of change”

The most important part of the programme is the project of change that each participant brings with them from their home country. The project is initiated and anchored before arrival in Stockholm, and is then developed during the course. After the first phase of the course, each participant continues to work on their project back home. There is a follow-up about six months after the course in one of the participants countries, in which the participants report their results and how they plan to continue developing their projects.

About the course

The course is part of a training programme that spans two to three times a year. It is funded by Sida and implemented in cooperation with WIPO (UN). The PRV's training programmes are held on an international level. PRV has nearly 30 years of experience of this kind of programme.

There is no doubt that this kind of training is greatly sought after in many countries. In fact, we are therefore now scaling up to five annual trainings, says an enthusiastic Gabriel Pino, Director of International Cooperation at PRV. Being able to understand and use Intellectual Property Rights is crucial for developing countries. It safeguards inventors’ and creators’ rights, and in doing so It contributes to economic growth and ultimately development. Also, Intellectual Property can develop a country’s technology base and improve the innovation climate. Altogether, a functioning IP system enhances trade on equal terms.

Curious about what participants think of this programme?

We talked to two participants and here is what they told us:

Learning from each other: Aye Aye Maw

There is more to IP than  patent-registration: Oliver Rwamasirabo