Actas - Consejo de los ADPIC - Ver detalles de la intervención/declaración

Ambassador Mothusi Palai (Botswana)
12 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INNOVATION: PROMOTING AWARENESS; CASE STUDIES
544. I would like to echo the comments made by previous delegations and thank the proponents for bringing forward this agenda item and also the organizers and participants of the innovation fair, which is an excellent initiative. 545. Innovation is critical to the growth of our economy. It makes our economy more competitive and creates investment. In recognition of this, Australia was pleased to launch the hosting of the 2014 Global Innovation Index in Sydney in July. This Index, co-published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Cornell University and INSEAD Business School, looks at how economies around the world support innovation. We commend this study to those who have not yet had the opportunity to review it. 546. As highlighted at the launch, Australia's experience is that four features within its IP system have been important in supporting innovation. Firstly, striking a balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring equitable access to new technologies, products and services. Secondly, providing investors with an opportunity to recoup the investments necessary to bring ideas to the marketplace. Thirdly, ensuring that innovators can obtain the rewards from their research and development and can fund further research. Finally, promoting further innovation through access to information, new technologies and content. 547. We have also found that Australian businesses that innovate are three times more likely to export and 18 times more likely to increase the number of export markets targeted than those that do not. 548. We also recognize the importance of leveraging innovation occurring outside of Australia. As a net importer of intellectual property, Australians need access to the creative works and inventions of our trading partners and our approaches also support this need. 549. In closing, Australia is committed to supporting innovation and ensuring that we both have access to the innovation of others and enable Australians to contribute to the pool of innovative and creative ideas.
The Council took note of the statements made.
12.1. The Chairman said that this item had been put on the agenda at the written request by the delegations of the European Union, Switzerland and the United States.

12.2. The representatives of Switzerland; the European Union; the United States; Ecuador; Panama; Japan; Chile; Mexico; India; Canada; Hong Kong, China; Chinese Taipei; El Salvador; Australia and Brazil took the floor.

12.3. The Council took note of the statements made.

IP/C/M/77, IP/C/M/77/Add.1