You are Invited to Participate in the World Trade Organization
Innovation Fair
When? Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Where? World Trade Organization (WTO) Atrium, 154 Rue de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
Why the WTO? The WTO is situated at the crossroads of global commerce and international
law. Trade serves as one of the key conduits for innovation, and plays a fundamental role in
voluntary technology transfer and know-how diffusion. By participating in the Innovation Fair,
innovators can showcase their creativity to the WTO Membership, and will have the opportunity
to meet investors and others who could help further develop their innovations.
Why participate? Participation will provide an opportunity to have your invention or other
creative work put in a spotlight. Participation is limited, so a select few contributions, so each
participant can stand out. The event will be publicized (on the internet and in some printed
media), which will provide a significant opportunity for the public to learn about your work.
How can I participate? In the WTO Atrium, about 15 tables will be available for innovators to
display their creations, and to meet the attendees of the event.
Who will attend? The proposed Innovation Fair will be attended by WTO delegates, as well as
the public. Attendees will include prospective investors, other inventors, and the curious. There
will be no charge, but the public will need to register in advance.
Cost: Participants would need to pay for their own travel expenses, but there will be no charge
to the participants for the table or equipment (computer monitors) for the event.
Other activities: The Fair would be complemented by a panel discussion on October 29
highlighting several inspiring innovations and the enabling environments, including IPR
protection, which made those innovations possible. In addition, the discussion will focus on
venture capital. The panel has not yet been filled, and if you would like to speak, please let us
know.
For further information: please contact; Tomas Baert, Permanent Mission of the European
Union to the WTO (phone: + 41 22 918 22 17, e-mail: tomas.baert@eeas.europa.eu); Karin
Ferriter, Permanent Mission of the United States to the WTO (phone: + 41 22 749 5281., or email: Karin_Ferriter@ustr.eop.gov); Frédéric Payot, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the
WTO and EFTA (phone: + 41 22
E-mail: frederic.payot@seco.admin.ch).
Other frequently asked questions about the Innovation Fair:
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How will I benefit from participating? Participants will benefit in two main ways.
First, they will raise the profile of their invention/design/creative work, and will have
an opportunity to meet people who can help further develop their idea. Secondly,
they will help governments make and improve policies that support the creative
community.
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Are participants screened? Yes, participation is limited, and participants are
carefully selected so as to choose creations that represent a diversity of intellectual
property rights, and creators from a diversity of countries.
I don’t have a patent, trademark, copyright, plant variety protection, industrial
design or geographical indication. Can I still participate? No. Participants need to
have some form of intellectual property (of course, if the work is a creative work,
then registration is not required and a Copyright is automatic), or represent an
intellectual property office.
Will many Intellectual Property Offices be there? Yes, we expect to have at least the
World Intellectual Property Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
and the Polish Patent Office also present.
What is the size of the table? The table measures 180 cm.
How many people will monitor a table/booth? There will be two chairs, but more
people can be there.
Is it possible to plug any electrical devices? Yes, but not everyone will get an outlet.
They will be allocated later.
Is parking available? Yes.
Can we have a screen with sound and pictures? Yes, there are two large screens
and additional monitors available. However, not each table will be able to have the
equipment.
What is the organization for the day? Participants are encouraged to set up by
09:30 and to plan to stay until 19:00. Peak times will be 09:30 to 10:00 and 12:00 to
15:00. A reception is planned for 18:00.
Is it possible to install the booth the day before the event? Yes, the WTO will allow
delivery of things the day before and will put things in a safe room. The tables will
be set up the night before, but they do not advise setting up until October 28th.
Is the room secure? Yes, but it is not a good idea to leave anything extremely
valuable anyway.
Will the organization propose to print leaflet or poster? We will develop
promotional materials with information that is provided in advance, but for leaflets
and posters, the participants will need to provide their own. The WTO will print
some materials, and the cost is available on request.
Are there some specific installations which will be not allowed in the exhibition hall?
Yes, but nothing with smoke, toxic fumes, loud noise, the to be expected things
where the audience can include children and sensitive adults.
What is the deadline: August 1. The time between August 1 and October 28th will
be needed to publicize the event, and to develop profiles of the inventors.
Who is participating? A draft list is included as an attachment to this document.
Attachment 1
Innovation Fair Draft Participation List (No specific order)
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Helioz (Austrian social enterprise- http://www.helioz.org). One Helioz device: WADI™ is
an easy-to-use and cost-effective UV measurement device that visualises the process of solar
water disinfection. WADI™ is solar-powered, operates without the use of chemicals and filters,
and can help reduce waterborne diseases thanks to the power of the sun.
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KACST - Saudi Arabia - http://www.kacst.edu.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx King Abdulaziz
City for Science and Technology (KACST) is an independent scientific organization
administratively reporting to the Prime Minister. KACST is both the Saudi Arabian national
science agency and its national laboratories. The science agency function involves science and
technology policy making, data collection, funding of external research, and services such as the
patent office. Will provide two or more inventions, to be determined.
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Frederic Valade (French inventor, USP 8,286,304: Device to facilitate moving a curtain
with loops; and Swiss invention coach.
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Sound Candy- a Turkish invention- inventor (i.k.tolgaerden@gmail.com) - Manufacturing
method and apparatus for popping candy (WO 2011092669 A1)
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Lithuania- Contact: arunas.karlonas@mita ricardas.valanciauskas@mita.lt Possible
contributions- • Elinta – the company developed a system called “Rubbee” that can be mounted
on a bicycle so from a standard bike you can make an electrified bike –
http://www.elinta.eu/en/_182.• Friday Lab – this company created a smart fish finder which may
be connected to mobile devices (smart phones or tablets) –
http://www.fridaylab.com/works/#id50-Deeper-|-Smart-Fishfinder• Eco-friendly bottle – the
company started to manufacture bottles that may be shrinked and contracted, may be reused
many times – http://ufobottle.com/;• Acorn Intelligence – the company created smart shopping
cart, developed interactive panels and retail shelves. Mostly, they use RFID technology which
improves shopping experience – http://www.acornintelligence.com/;• Integrated Optics – a
successful company that manufactures products equipped with very compact lasers. The small
size of their devices distinguishes them from other competitors – http://integratedoptics.eu/.
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Apelab: http://www.tdg.ch/geneve/actu-genevoise/Le-jeu-genevois-qui-seduit-Apple-etDisney/story/19254734
http://apelab.ch/ - apelab is a swiss design studio focusing on interactive storytelling, pervasive
game design and user experience. We work on the links between technology and design in
search for new immersive stories and experiences using interaction technologies. Apelab says
that they can transform technologies into poetic, accessible and compelling user experiences
working towards the future of storytelling.
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Dr. Stefan Radel, an inventor and entrepreneur in the field of PAT probe, Austriaradel@tuwien.ac.at
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Croatian Ministry of entrepreneurship and crafts has recommend and nominated two
projects :
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concrete with absorbing capacity to reduce the noise effects,
2.
wall panels with isolation features, reducing the energy loss)
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The Polish Patent office. Karolina Badzioch-Brylska Promotion and Innovation Support
Department al. Niepodległości 188/192 | 00-950 Warsaw, Poland | E-mail: kbadzioch@uprp.pl
www.uprp.pl
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The United States Patent and Trademark Office
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Fongit- a Swiss accelerator - Fongit is a start-up accelerator supporting high-tech
ventures. We are a private, non-profit foundation, whose mission is to foster business
opportunities and create wealth and employment in the region. The foundation supports earlystage, high-tech ventures by providing fully furnished office-space, business coaching,
administration, and access to financing, and incubates start-ups with innovative and disruptive
technologies and business models in the Cleantech, IT, Mechatronics and Medtech industries.
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takram- a Japanese design engineering company (2 innovators are likely to participate in
this fair)- takram consists of a group of talented “design engineers” who are fluent in both
creative design and technical engineering. They are also active in acquisition of patent and
design rights for their creative innovation. http://www.takram.com/?page_id=32
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Katadyn - Swiss company for individual water purification systems and products
(http://www.katadyngroup.com/chen/). Also represented at the booth will be CTI
(http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/3/*/---/l=2), the Swiss Confederation’s innovation
promotion agency which lends support to R&D projects, entrepreneurship and to the
development of start-up companies, as well as EMPA
(http://www.kti.admin.ch/index.html?lang=en), interdisciplinary research and services institute for
material sciences and technology development.