Key Details
The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Women, Innovation and Impact documents implementation of its IP and Gender Action Plan (IPGAP), launched in 2023, through selected country and programme examples.
Measure | Reported position |
|---|---|
Women’s share of inventors | 18.1% in 2025, up from 17.1% in 2022, among inventors named in published international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) |
Projected parity | 2083, if progress continues at the rate estimated by WIPO |
Direct support since 2023 | More than 30 women-focused projects, reaching over 1,500 beneficiaries through IP knowledge, mentoring and business support |
These figures describe participation and programme reach; the publication does not establish how much the action plan caused the global change.
A persistent gap calls for changes within IP institutions
Women’s inventor share rose by one percentage point between 2022 and 2025. WIPO’s response connects three areas: gender-responsive IP policy, evidence-building and direct assistance to women innovators and entrepreneurs.
Country examples show how this approach enters institutional practice. Serbia introduced metrics for women applicants and incorporated support for women creators into its national IP strategy. Namibia is developing its second national IP policy and strategy, drawing on earlier entrepreneurship support to address barriers to creating, protecting and commercialising IP.
Better measurement reveals who participates — and who remains unseen
IP records often contain names without gender information. WIPO’s World Gender-Name Dictionary (WGND 2.0)uses names to estimate women’s and men’s representation, drawing on more than 26 million records across 195 countries and territories. These are inferred classifications, rather than self-reported gender.
The Global Research Experts Meeting (GREM) on Increasing Women’s Participation in Innovation and IPcomplements this tool. Since its launch in 2024, it has presented more than 45 research papers examining barriers involving finance, IP knowledge, collaboration and commercialisation.
Support extends from registration to using IP in business
In Guatemala, a project supporting 30 Poqomchi’ women combined branding, e-commerce and IP protection, resulting in three registered trademarks rooted in their cultural heritage. Such examples broaden the story beyond patents to the practical use of brands and other IP assets.
WIPO’s IP for Her platform addresses a further gap: access to mentors, peers and resources after projects end. Earlier engagement also features in Nigeria’s girls’ IP youth camp, whose lessons are informing an IP for Schools approach centred on teacher capacity and institutional ownership.
Policy Relevance
For India, the report offers transferable approaches rather than an assessment of domestic performance. Its relevance spans women researchers, entrepreneurs and artisans, whose needs extend from recognition as inventors to managing and earning from IP.
Measure distinct forms of participation: IP statistics can distinguish women named as inventors, women applicants and applications involving mixed teams. Name-based estimates require checks for local naming practices and unclassified records.
Connect protection with enterprise support: Coordination between IP authorities, MSME programmes and women’s entrepreneurship initiatives could link registration assistance with mentoring, branding and market access.
Track benefits beyond participation counts: Renewals, licensing, sustained use of trademarks and business outcomes would help establish whether support produces lasting value. Training attendance and registrations capture only part of that journey.
Follow the Full Report Here: Women, Innovation and Impact: Illustrating the global progress of WIPO’s first IP and Gender Action Plan