Intellectual Property Management Clinic

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), IFPMA, and Interpat partnered to advance the Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC), supporting health tech, MedTech, and biotech SMEs with targeted mentoring, training, and tailored IP roadmaps.

www.wipo.int/en/web/business/ip-management-clinic

Overview

The Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC) is a global initiative led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In June 2026, IFPMA and Interpat joined forces with WIPO to support the rollout of the IPMC program at broader level. It supports health tech, MedTech, and biotech SMEs in building stronger intellectual property (IP) strategies to unlock growth, attract investment, and bring innovations to market. Through a combination of expert mentoring, training, and tailored IP roadmaps, the program enables companies to manage and leverage their intangible assets more strategically across their business lifecycle.

Through a combination of expert mentoring, training, and tailored IP roadmaps, the program enables companies to manage and leverage their intangible assets more strategically across their business lifecycle.

Why IP matters

For innovative health companies, intellectual property is a key driver of competitiveness and long-term success. Strong IP strategies help translate scientific breakthroughs into viable products, support partnerships and financing, and ensure sustainable innovation.
The IPMC Program contributes to:
  • Stronger and more sustainable innovation ecosystems
  • Increased competitiveness of SMEs
  • Economic growth, development, and job creation
  • A more stable pathway for the development of medicines, vaccines, and health technologies

How the program works

IPMCs are delivered at the national level through a structured, multi-country approach that combines global expertise with local engagement. Under this partnership:

  • WIPO leads the program design and implementation, providing technical expertise, tools, and overall coordination
  • IFPMA mobilizes its global network of member associations and member companies to drive outreach and country selection
  • Interpat contributes senior IP and patent counsel expertise, supporting mentoring and technical guidance.

Participating SMEs are selected through national industry networks and receive hands-on support to:

  • Strengthen their IP strategy and asset management
  • Navigate both IP ownership and third-party rights
  • Integrate IP into business and growth decisions

I am pleased to welcome the support from IFPMA and INTERPAT for WIPO's Intellectual Property Management Clinics and a new phase in our partnership to support biotech and pharmaceutical startups in emerging markets. Improvements in health rely on intellectual property, which enables job growth and economic development and incentivizes the innovation on which human health and wellbeing depend. By pairing promising innovators with real-world expertise on IP strategy, these clinics strengthen local innovation ecosystems and help transform ideas into impact.

Daren Tang

Director General, WIPO

The global intellectual property framework allows IFPMA members to invest in R&D and collaborate with partners in a way that delivers medicines and vaccines to the people who need them. By working with WIPO and Interpat, IFPMA reaffirms our shared commitment to creating the conditions for science and collaboration to thrive worldwide.

David Reddy

Director General, IFPMA

Intellectual property delivers its full value when it is actively managed and embedded in business strategy. Through our network at Interpat, we are bringing expertise to help SMEs better understand, manage and leverage their IP to scale their innovations, tailored to their local ecosystems.

Andrew Jenner

Director General, Interpat

Discover the Intellectual Property Management Clinic

This four-month program supports innovative companies in formulating their IP strategies based on their business plan and intangible assets portfolio.

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Stronger Together

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