Inside WIPO

What is WIPO?

WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. We are a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 191 member states.

Our mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property (IP) system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. Our mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO in 1967.

Video: WIPO in three minutes

Quick facts

History: established in 1967 | Membership: 191 member states | Director General: Francis Gurry | Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Who we are

Member states

Our 191 member states approve WIPO's strategic direction and activities in the annual meetings of the Assemblies.

Management & staff

Our staff (- the Secretariat), guided by our core values, provide the skills to implement the member states' decisions and deliver WIPO's diverse programs.

Director General Francis Gurry
Senior Management Team
Organigram of the WIPO secretariat structure

Observers

Some 250 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have official observer status at WIPO meetings.

What we do

We help governments, businesses and society realize the benefits of IP.

We provide:

a policy forum to shape balanced international IP rules for a changing world;
global services to protect IP across borders and to resolve disputes;
technical infrastructure to connect IP systems and share knowledge;
cooperation and capacity-building programs to enable all countries to use IP for economic, social and cultural development;
a world reference source for IP information

Activities

Each WIPO division, led by its Director, is responsible for specific programs to achieve our nine strategic goals and objectives:

WIPO activities by unit
The Year in Review: Report of the DG to the WIPO Assemblies 2015
WIPO – Making IP Work (a quick introduction to WIPO and what we do)

WIPO Wire – A short selection of news, features and resources from WIPO. 2 per month.

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Accountability

Results, program and budget

The objectives, performance measures and budgetary planning for all WIPO's proposed activities are set out in our Program and Budget. We report to member states on the results each year in the Program Performance Report.

Financial reporting

We submit two-yearly financial management reports and annual financial statements to the Assemblies of the Member States, prepared in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Oversight

Our operations and activities are overseen and evaluated by external and internal bodies:

WIPO Independent Advisory Oversight Committee (IAOC)
External Auditor
Internal Oversight Division (IOD)

Working with WIPO

WIPO careers

We employ talented individuals from around the globe to help us meet our challenges.

Individual contractors

We engage experts and accredited service providers as external resources to cover our business requirements. Contractors typically work in areas such as IP for development, copyright, IP services, translation and strategic projects.

Current vacancies for individual contractors

Procurement

We procure goods and services from suppliers worldwide. We focus on achieving the best value for money through a transparent procurement process.

WIPO procurement process and procedures
Current tenders

Cooperation

We work in close partnership with IP offices, IGOs, NGOs, and other public and private stakeholder throughout the world to deliver our programs.