About our Work

Patent regimes play an increasingly complex role in technology markets and although important work has already been undertaken regarding the issues facing developing countries in different sectors, important gaps remain with respect to understanding the changing role of patents in stimulating knowledge creation and diffusion. The issues are particularly complex when it comes to new technologies such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and technologies in the information and communications sector (ICTs). As patents become more important in determining access to fundamental research, essential products and services, and to economic development generally, it is critical that patent policy be subject to closer scrutiny by policy makers and researchers.

Work under the Programme focuses on filling research and analytical gaps regarding the tension between public domain and private appropriation of knowledge in areas related to public health and food security as well as communications, with a view to promoting a model of regulation that encourages development and social welfare.

Current Research Areas

The current research and policy analysis on innovation, technology and patent policy focuses on:

• Innovation, Public Health and Incentives for R&D for Diseases that Affect Developing Countries:
  In addition to empirical and theoretical research, the work here includes technical and policy support for the implementation by developing countries of various recent WTO decisions and other processes such as the WHO Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, and Public Health (CIPIH).
• Biotechnology:
  The focus is on the questions of whether patenting of biotechnological inventions is desirable, and under what conditions, and where patenting is allowed or otherwise exists, to address the specific problems and challenges that arise.
• Nanotechnology:
  The main work focuses on identifying the regulatory areas that need to be addressed with respect to this new technology and to undertake research and analysis aimed at providing policy makers with options regarding how to address the issues related to patents and technology regulation.
• Patent Law Harmonisation:
  The research here focuses on the implications for developing countries of the global movement towards harmonisation of patent law including the Current Negotiations on the Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT) at WIPO.
• The Trade Implications of Patenting Trends:
  The focus here in on the global challenges, the special problems of developing countries, and options for solutions in relation to IPR and trade questions that arise with respect to the development of standards such the problems of disclosure and licensing.

Publications

For publications and papers on this issue area click here

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