618.   Canada is pleased to be a co-sponsor of document IP/C/W/675 and would like to sincerely thank the delegation of Switzerland for their leadership in drafting this communication. Canada shares the objective of other Members in working continuously to ensure that trade, environmental, and innovation-related policies are mutually-supportive, including in the area of intellectual property rights. 619.   Many Canadian companies are international leaders in the clean tech industry, and Canada supports SME innovation and growth in this sector in a variety of ways. For example, the Clean Growth Hub is a free service by the Government of Canada that works with clean technology producers and adopters to help find Government programmes and services to advance clean technology projects. This includes linkages to IP-specific programmes and services that are of course the subject area focus for our Council. 620.   Concerning such IP-focused initiatives, Canada continues to encourage policies that stimulate the creation and diffusion of technologies to respond to environmental challenges. For example, since 2011, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office has provided for the acceleration of the prosecution of patent applications relating to environmental technologies, in order to expedite the commercialization of technologies that could be useful in the mitigation of environmental threats, or to conserve the natural environment and resources. 621.   In order to be granted access to the expedited examination service for green technologies, a patent applicant must submit a declaration stating that their application relates to technology whose commercialization would help to resolve or mitigate environmental impacts or conserve the natural environment and resources. No additional fee is required for advancing the examination of patent applications related to green technologies. 622.   As an additional means to facilitate the support of the IP system for the development and dissemination of clean technologies the Canadian Intellectual Property Office has developed a number of tools for businesses in this area. For instance, a webinar on "Clean Technology and IP" was recently made available on the CIPO website to assist companies in this sector, and includes detailed sections on IP Strategy development, IP during research and development, and IP awareness and education resources. This webinar is available at no cost on the CIPO website, should other delegates wish to view it or share it with colleagues. 623.   The communication for the present agenda item notes the WIPO GREEN initiative as a valuable mechanism to support the dissemination of green technologies, including among SMEs. WIPO GREEN is of course an interactive marketplace that promotes innovation and the diffusion of green technologies and facilitates commercial relationships and transactions by connecting green technology providers and seekers. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office is a member of WIPO GREEN and Canada would certainly support other Members' engagement in the initiative. 624.   Finally, concerning the matter of technology transfer to LDCs, I would note the linkage to Canada's 2020 Report on the Implementation of Article 66.2. At last week's very productive workshop, Canada was pleased to focus its presentation on incentives that it provides to promote technology transfer, including to LDCs, in the area of environmental and climate change technologies, such as contributions to multilateral initiatives such as the World Bank-managed Clean Technology Fund and Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. More detailed information on such initiatives are of course included in Canada's report. 625.   To conclude, Canada would like to highlight the importance of clean technology innovation and development, as well as the role of the IP system, as we collectively face environmental challenges, including climate change. We are pleased to have this opportunity to learn more from other Members' experiences in this important area during the TRIPS Council discussion on this agenda item as well as the during the accompanying virtual event. Canada would be pleased to engage with any delegation that is interested in discussing these issues further.