H.E. Ambassador Dr Lansana GBERIE

Switzerland

11 TWENTIETH ANNUAL REVIEW UNDER PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE DECISION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT

154.   Switzerland's 2022 report contains an updated list of the measures and programmes that Switzerland has implemented to incentivize technology and knowledge transfer to LDCs. The report lists the projects financed by Swiss official development assistance (ODA) as funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. 155.   We would like to briefly mention one example of a current project listed in our Article 66.2 report. This project is called REPIC, a Swiss Platform for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency Promotion in International Cooperation. This platform is jointly managed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Federal Office for the Environment and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. 156.   Its main objective is the transfer of know-how and technologies with the aim of developing renewable energies, energy efficiency and resource efficiency, such as solar, wind and geothermal energies especially in LDCs. 157.   Since its launch in 2004, REPIC has supported more than 150 projects in 50 different countries, including the following LDCs: Uganda (biomass), Mali (biomass, photovoltaic), Benin (biomass, resource efficiency), Nepal (small hydro), Madagascar (mall hydro ), Bangladesh (photovoltaic), Senegal (photovoltaic), Zambia (photovoltaic), Haiti (energy efficiency, resource efficiency), Liberia (resource efficiency), Tanzania (resource efficiency) and Cambodia. 158.   Last but not least, we would like to inform Members that last spring we worked, with the Secretariat - which we would like to thank for its valuable assistance - on some technical improvements regarding the submission of the Article 66.2 reports via the e-TRIPS Submission System. These improvements will ultimately benefit all stakeholders, including LDCs. 159.   Switzerland will continue to make all efforts to provide relevant information on the incentives it provides under Article 66.2, in as transparent, consistent, and comprehensible manner as possible. We look forward to participating in the dedicated workshop on Article 66.2 scheduled before the first regular TRIPS Council meeting in 2023, and to receiving the preparatory information ahead of the workshop in order to allow for adequate preparation.

The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

44. The Chair turned to the Council's 20th annual review of developed country Members' reports on their implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement. Under a Council decision of February 2003, developed country Members are to submit annual reports on actions taken or planned in pursuance of their commitments under Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement. New detailed reports are required every third year, and updates in the intervening years.
45. He recalled that in July 2022, the Council had requested developed country Members to submit updates to their seventh set of new detailed reports in time for the present meeting, and the Secretariat had since circulated a reminder. He also noted that the LDC Group had submitted a proposal of a template for the submission of reports on commitments of developed countries under Article 66.2.
46. He noted that the Council had received new reports from Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Since the circulation of the revised draft agenda the European Union had also submitted its report. This documentation was being circulated under the new dedicated document series with the symbol where "R" stands for "Reports" and "TTI" stands for "Technology Transfer Incentives".
47. He said that paragraph 2 of the Council's Decision on the Implementation of Article 66.2 states that the annual review should provide Members with an opportunity to pose questions in relation to the information submitted and request additional information; discuss the effectiveness of the incentives provided in promoting and encouraging technology transfer to least developed country Members in order to enable them to create a sound and viable technological base; and consider any points relating to the operation of the reporting procedure established by the Decision.
48. Some of the information by developed country Members had been received only very recently, and most of it was, so far, available only in its original language. He therefore intended for Members to have an opportunity to make further comments at the next meeting of the Council. This would give Members a chance to study the information recently circulated and any additional information subsequently received.
49. The Chair announced that the Secretariat was once again planning to hold the Article 66.2 Workshop in March 2023, back-to-back with the first TRIPS Council meeting of the year. This would allow LDCs sufficient time to absorb the information provided by developed countries in their reports and would also ensure that these reports are translated. It would further be an opportunity to discuss the LDC Groups' proposal for a template for reporting on commitments under this Article. He indicated that the Workshop would comprise two days of workshop sessions, and a reporting and review segment within the first TRIPS Council meeting of 2023.
50. The representatives of the; the European Union; Australia; the United Kingdom; New Zealand; the United States of America; Japan; Switzerland; Canada; South Africa; Bangladesh, on behalf of the LDC Group; and India took the floor.
51. The Chair suggested that Members be given an opportunity to continue considering the information provided at our next meeting.
52. The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

IP/C/M/106, IP/C/M/106/Add.1