ISIPO at the WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva

Representatives of the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office (ISIPO) recently attended the General Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held at the Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 8 to 17 July 2025. The Assemblies represent WIPO’s largest annual policymaking forum, where the 193 member states review the Organization’s work and set strategic direction for the global IP system. This year’s meetings brought together nearly 1,600 delegates from around the world, including ISIPO Director General Borghildur Erlingsdóttir, Chief Legal Officer Brynhildur Pálmarsdóttir, and Director of Operations Elfa Íshólm Ólafsdóttir.

On the sidelines of the Assemblies, Director General Erlingsdóttir held a bilateral meeting with WIPO Director General Daren Tang. They discussed key institutional priorities and the recent “Iceland case.” The meeting reaffirmed the strong cooperation between Iceland and WIPO and underscored the importance of meaningful participation by small states in shaping global intellectual property policies.

During the Assemblies, Director General Erlingsdóttir also signed, on behalf of Iceland, the newly adopted Riyadh Treaty on the Protection of Industrial Designs, which aims to harmonize registration requirements across countries and simplify international protection procedures for designers.

A highlight of this year’s Assemblies was the WIPO Global Awards ceremony, where Icelandic company Carbfix was recognized for its outstanding innovation in the field of environmental sustainability. The awards celebrate companies that make effective use of intellectual property to create positive societal impact and promote sustainable development. Carbfix CEO Edda Sif Pind Aradóttir also received a special distinction as the top woman entrepreneur of the year.

An action plan was signed with the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property, INPI, based on a memorandum of understanding agreed earlier this year. ISIPO representatives also met with Iceland’s Permanent Mission in Geneva. In addition, they actively participated in a series of working groups and consultations with partner institutions and fellow WIPO member states. Topics included the development of international registration systems, WIPO’s strategic plans for the upcoming year, and ways to better support entrepreneurs, SMEs, and young people in making effective use of intellectual property rights.

In his opening remarks at the Assemblies, WIPO Director General Daren Tang emphasized the continuing global momentum of innovation despite uncertainty and challenges.

“Every minute, over 40 intellectual property applications are filed somewhere in the world – a reminder of how important IP is as a driver of value creation in the 21st century,” he said.