293.   Document IP/C/W/645 reports on technical cooperation activities concerning TRIPS that were undertaken by the WTO Secretariat between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2018. The document provides a general overview of trends; details of each activity are provided in Annex I of the document. 294.   Technical cooperation activities, implemented by the WTO Secretariat under the aegis of TRIPS, have the objective of assisting Members and Observers to meet their developmental and other domestic policy objectives within the framework of the IP system established by the TRIPS Agreement, and to respond to the needs and priorities articulated by the Members concerned. Activities are driven by demand from developing country and least developed countries, as well as from governments preparing to accede to the WTO. Hence, focussing on the TRIPS framework itself, this work touches on areas such as innovation and industrial policy, health, regulatory aspects, competition policy and environmental protection, through the trade and intellectual property regime, in line with domestic circumstances and priority needs. These activities also have the objective of strengthening the capacity of Members to fully participate in the WTO's work on TRIPS matters. 295.   A central focus also remains on assisting Members and Observers to understand their rights and obligations under the Agreement. As we have reported under Item 1, Members and Observers continue to receive tailored assistance regarding their participation in the transparency for the work of this Council, and this will be stepped up in line with the opportunities provided by the eTRIPS system. 296.   Among the more recent developments, since the entry into force of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement in January 2017, activities have increasingly focused on implementing the Protocol at the domestic level and supporting the utilization of the Special Compulsory Licensing System as an effective procurement tool to ensure access to affordable medicines. Given the increasing interest in sharing practical experience with the implementation of certain aspects of Part III of the TRIPS Agreement, the Secretariat also organized the first WTO activity dedicated to intellectual property judges from developing countries and economies in transition. This workshop shared experience with the application of relevant TRIPS Agreement provisions in a wide range of jurisdictions and fostered a network for continuing practical dialogue.