A wide range of technical cooperation activities is undertaken by WIPO relating to the TRIPS Agreement.  WIPO regularly responds to requests from least developed countries (LDCs), developing countries, and countries in transition to provide TRIPS-related legislative advice and conduct technical cooperation activities.  These activities fall within the framework of the 1995 WIPO-WTO Cooperation Agreement and the ensuing 2001 WIPO-WTO joint initiative on technical cooperation to assist LDCs.

WIPO Member States' implementation of TRIPS Agreement obligations is supported by WIPO's legal and technical assistance.  Such assistance enables countries, in particular LDCs and developing countries, to formulate and implement effective strategies and policies aimed at creating, protecting, and managing intellectual property (IP) for economic, social, and cultural development.  WIPO assists countries to integrate IP into overall national development plans and public policies in areas such as health, trade, education, research, competition, and technology transfer.  In addition, WIPO advises countries on flexibilities available under international IP treaties, as well as those under the TRIPS Agreement.

Faced with continued challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, WIPO maintained close engagement with its Member States, especially through the virtual delivery of capacity-building activities.  Also, a suite of support measures was put into place to assist its Member States in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and in laying the foundations for post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.  It comprises five main areas: policy and legislative assistance; technical assistance and capacity building; innovation support and technology transfer; IP dispute resolution; and knowledge resources.

Furthermore, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WIPO strengthened its Trilateral Cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).  Collaboration was initiated on a series of workshops to augment the flow of information and assistance on the pandemic, and on the creation of a joint platform for tripartite technical assistance to Members. 

The Annex provides a list of the relevant activities undertaken by WIPO in the period from September 2020 to August 2021. This list is not exhaustive.