The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is hosting delegates from intellectual property (IP) offices from around the world, both in person and online, for a three-day symposium March 6 - 8, 2024. During this year’s symposium, participants will discuss engaging topics and collaborate on developing and sustaining impactful programs that support the 2024 International Women’s Day theme: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
Through workshops, presentations, and panel discussions, this year’s event will address the state of women's representation in the IP ecosystem today and in the future. Some topics covered will include outreach directed at engaging youth and underrepresented communities in IP, addressing the gender gap, potential collaborations with various stakeholders, leveraging data to further inclusion of women in IP.
This year, similar to the past two years, the USPTO will observe International Women’s Day by joining other intellectual property offices and organizations around the world in a joint statement on International Women's Day recognizing the importance of diversity in innovation and creativity and the incredible value that women bring to economic progress worldwide.
Watch USPTO Director Vidal's 2023 Opening Remarks
2024 Women in IP Symposium E-binder
Agenda
Agenda - Day One, Wednesday, March 6, 2024
| Time (ET) | Agenda item |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. | Timed entry/ Check-in / Arrival and security checkpoints for attendees |
| 8:30 - 9:10 a.m. | [NOT HYBRID] Welcome / Rise and shine: Morning mixer with USPTO leadership Welcome to the 2024 Women in IP Symposium! In-person attendees will have an opportunity to network with USPTO leadership prior to the official start of the three-day event.
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| 9:10 - 9:30 a.m. | Session 1.1 | Welcome Official kick-off of the three-day symposium. Attendees will see video addresses from IPO leadership.
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| 9:30 - 9:50 a.m. | Session 1.2 | Opening remarks: USPTO leadership from OPIA and Trademarks USPTO leadership discusses the importance of collaboration, investing in women and how inclusion and diversity uplifts the global IP ecosystem.
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| 9:50 - 10:05 a.m. | Transition to Singapore/Venice Room |
| 10:05 - 10:45 a.m. | Session 1.3 | “Diversity Download” Podcast: Gender gap in IP - Increasing access to jobs and innovation This live, recorded episode will focus on the gender gap in intellectual property, how CIPO and the USPTO are helping more women thrive in the IP field through targeted programs that support women entrepreneurs and inventors.
Location: Singapore/Venice Room |
| 10:45 - 11:00 a.m. | Break |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. | Session 1.4 | IPO panel: Education and outreach to youth and underrepresented communities Establishing IP programs targeted to youth creates opportunities for people across occupations and for innovation. IPOs will discuss their initiatives to increase participation in the global IP system among youth and underrepresented communities, including indigenous peoples.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 11:45 - 1:30 p.m. | Session 1.5 | [NOT HYBRID] Facilitated conversations and working lunch In this in-person facilitated discussion, attendees will participate in open dialogue about the themes and topics featured in the morning sessions.
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| 1:30 - 1:45 p.m. | Transition to Clara Barton Auditorium (South) |
| 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. | Session 1.6 | Women’s Entrepreneurship (WE) International: Global initiatives and opportunities for women In the only public session of the symposium, Commissioner for Patents Udupa will moderate a discussion about initiatives and opportunities in IP offices and organizations around the world to help women use IP to take their ideas into the marketplace.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (South) Virtual Location: Online attendees are required to register separately for this event |
| 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. | Transition to Clara Barton North Auditorium |
| 2:45 - 3:30 p.m. | Session 1.7 | Workshop: Building an IP mindset among K-20 STEAM students internationally Attendees will participate in small group discussions, exchanging best practices focused on the systems and policies that support youth outreach in their respective countries.
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| 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. | Break |
| 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. | Session 1.8 | Panel: Investing in the future of IPO leadership to support DEI In this session, paired mentors and mentees from the Global Mentoring Pilot discuss the impact of mentorship. Additionally, presenters will share success stories of IPO programs and gender policies that break down barriers to recruitment and career advancement for women pursuing leadership positions.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 4:45 - 5:00 p.m. | Session 1.9 | IPO presentation – “From Inclusion to Belonging” In this session IP Australia will share how they foster innovation, creativity, and collaboration by unlocking the full potential of its diverse workforce, and shape a workplace where everyone feels they truly belong.
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| 5:00 - 5:15 p.m. | Session 1.10 | Day One wrap-up Attendees will discuss the theme of the day: demonstrating and sharing ideas on DEIA training and awareness, and strategizing on how to work together. Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
Agenda - Day Two, Thursday, March 7, 2024
| Time (ET) | Agenda item |
|---|---|
| 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. | Day Two welcome and outlook The start of Day Two recaps what was learned on Day One and sets the course for the day. Attendees will view another round of video addresses from IPO leadership.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. | Session 2.1 | Panel: Private sector initiatives and public-private partnerships (PPP) in the innovation economy How does the private sector support women in the innovation economy? What are some examples of what works, and what doesn’t, when forming potentially long-term public-private partnerships? In this session, panelists will share best practices from the private sector.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 9:45 - 10:30 a.m. | Session 2.2 | Workshop: Lessons learned from private sector initiatives and PPP and how to improve them In this session, in-person and online attendees will join many private sector representatives in small group discussions about the impact of partnerships and explore how non-governmental organizations can support women innovators.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Break and transition to the Clara Barton Auditorium |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. | Session 2.3 | Panel: “Best practices in DEIA within the innovation economy” USPTO’s Deputy Director Brent will lead a discussion of DEIA initiatives in both the private and public sectors, such as those that create leadership pathways.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (South) |
| 11:45 - 1:30 p.m. | Session 2.4 | [NOT HYBRID] Photo session / Facilitated conversations and working lunch / Diversity showcase and fair Diversity showcase - USPTO Affinity Groups and Voluntary Employee Organizations (VEOs) share information about the various communities and missions.
Location: Madison Building, Lower Atrium |
| 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Summary of presentations on data | Collecting and sharing data to demonstrate the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) In this series of data presentations, leading economists, thought leaders, and subject matter experts will share information on the current state of diversity and inclusion in the IP ecosystem data and offer data-driven analysis that provides clarity on progress made and current challenges.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 1:30 - 1:40 p.m. | Session 2.5 | CIPO’s Research on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Hear the latest research from the Canadian IP Office on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for Women in Intellectual Property.
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| 1:40 - 1:50 p.m. | Session 2.6 | Using studies and data: CIPC South Africa - Collecting demographic data in patent applications Discover how CIPC South Africa leverages studies and data to gain valuable insights into the demographics of patent applicants, shedding light on diversity and inclusion trends in the field.
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| 1:50 - 2:00 p.m. | Session 2.7 | Japan’s current situation on DEIA and JPO’s initiatives Hear the latest data from JPO on the gender gap in IP, corporate attitude shifts, and their efforts in youth education and support for startups.
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| 2:00 - 2:10 p.m. | Session 2.8 | INAPI Chile’s studies on IP Data: A gender perspective Hear analysis of IP data with a focus on gender, revealing insights into the representation, challenges, and opportunities for women in intellectual property.
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| 2:10 - 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:30 - 2:40 p.m. | Session 2.9 | Retrospective study of women patenting in LATAM countries Learn about a study by think tank CAIINNO and GLIPA, revealing women's patenting numbers in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil from 2017 to 2022. This research shapes public policies supporting women inventors.
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| 2:40 - 2:50 p.m. | Session 2.10 | Empowering women: Fueling inventive activities Chief Sustainability Officer at the European Patent Office (EPO), Roberta Romano-Götsch, explores the nexus of innovation and creativity as accelerants to achieving a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world.
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| 2:50 - 3:00 p.m. | Session 2.11 | Women in design: A study from the European Union IP Office Learn about a recent study which explores gender disparities among designers by examining the role of women designers in the Registered Community Design filings at EUIPO.
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| 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. | Session 2.12 | Workshop: Discussion on collecting and sharing data to demonstrate the importance of DEIA Attendees will participate in small group discussions highlighting the importance of collecting and sharing DEIA data and best practices.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 4:00 - 4:15 p.m. | Session 2.13 | Demo of WIPO's IP and gender initiatives database Explore WIPO's new database featuring global policies and initiatives supporting women in innovation, entrepreneurship, and IP. With 201 entries from around the world, attendees will learn how this resource can inspire tailored approaches in their own contexts.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 4:15 - 4:30 p.m. | Session 2.14 | KIPO initiatives and policies In this session, KIPO shares information about achievements and contributions of women in the world of inventions that inspire the next generation of creative minds.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 4:30 - 4:45 p.m. | Session 2.15 | IPO presentation: U.S. Copyright Office The U.S. Copyright Office will provide an overview of their outreach programs targeting underserved communities.
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 4:45 - 5:00 p.m. | Session 2.16 | Recap of AIPLA's 2024 DEIA colloquium The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) provides a brief overview of their recent DEIA Colloquium focused on “Incentivizing Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Creativity Through Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.”
Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 5:00 - 5:15 p.m. | Session 2.17 | Day Two wrap-up Attendees will discuss the theme of the day: best practices and resources to support diversity and inclusion in inventorship, partnerships, and data collection that informs policies focused on DEIA. Location: Clara Barton Auditorium (North) |
| 5:15 - 5:30 p.m. | Transition to the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) Museum |
| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Session 2.18 | [NOT HYBRID] Reception in honor of International Women's Day Location: National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) Museum |
Agenda - Day Three, Friday, March 8, 2024
| Time (ET) | Agenda item |
|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:10 a.m. | Day Three welcome and outlook The start of Day Three provides a recap what was learned on Day Two and sets the course for the day. Attendees will view the final round of video addresses from IPO leadership.
Location: Singapore/Venice Room |
| 9:10 - 9:25 a.m. | Session 3.1 | 2024 International Women’s Day recognition To kick off International Women’s Day (IWD), Ms. Kanellia will read the official 2024 IWD Joint Statement and lead a short discussion on the meaning of this year’s theme: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
Location: Singapore/Venice Room |
| 9:25 - 10:05 a.m. | Session 3.2 | Closing day remarks and global IPO leaders panel In this session, Global IPO Leaders discuss their respective initiatives to help achieve parity in the global IP system for women and share their vision for future collaborative efforts within the IPO community.
Location: Singapore/Venice Room |
| 10:05 - 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Session 3.3 | Demo of USPTO’s Diversity Information (DI) platform This session features a demonstration of the USPTO’s Diversity Information Platform (DI platform), which provides the latest available data on demographic trends by industry and U.S. states. This tool facilitates the sharing of information and best practices, and offers transparency into USPTO’s geographic and workforce diversity.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. | Session 3.4 | Panel: Supporting women in IP enforcement This session will feature women who currently work in the field of IP enforcement worldwide and will share both criminal and civil enforcement perspectives.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 11:45 - 1:15 p.m. | Session 3.5 | [NOT HYBRID] Facilitated workshop and working lunch This in-person workshop on International Women’s Day will highlight the importance of investing in women and collaboration tools that will allow for continued knowledge sharing beyond the Women in IP Symposium. Location: GIPA Café |
1:15 - 2:45 p.m.
| Session 3.6 | Panel: Creativity and entrepreneurship The interconnectivity of creativity, ownership, access, and education will be explored in the final panel discussion and presentations.
Location: Paris/Berne Room |
| 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Session 3.7 | Taking our work forward: Day Three wrap-up event, closing, and workshop This three-day event draws to a close with remarks from Deputy Commissioner for Patents, Valencia Martin Wallace. Immediately following, there will be a recap of all three days and a guided discussion of how IPOs can continue to collaborate to empower women and girls in IP.
Location: Paris/Berne Room
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Biographies
Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Kathi Vidal serves as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) – America’s Innovation Agency.
As the chief executive of the USPTO, she leads one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world, with more than 13,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $4 billion. She is the principal IP advisor to the President and the Administration, through the Secretary of Commerce, and is focused on incentivizing and protecting U.S. innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. She leads an agency whose mission is to help American workers and businesses compete and collaborate, especially in ground-breaking technologies and across all demographics. As Director of the USPTO, Vidal is working to expand American innovation for and from all, and to bring more ideas to impact, including serving as the Vice Chair of the Council for Inclusive Innovation (CI2), alongside Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and the Council members.
Derrick Brent, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Derrick Brent is the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As the Deputy Director, he serves as the principal advisor to Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, managing a wide portfolio of programs and operations for one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world, with more than 13,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $4 billion. His responsibilities include working with Director Vidal to lead the USPTO; advance IP policy and procedures for the benefit of the country; expand the USPTO’s outreach efforts to incentivize and support more innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide; and execute the agency’s policies, priorities, and programs.
Vaishali Udupa, Commissioner for Patents
Vaishali Udupa is the Commissioner for Patents of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As Commissioner for Patents, Ms. Udupa manages and leads the Patents organization as its chief operating officer. She oversees the agency’s 10,000 Patents employees, including more than 9,000 patent examiners responsible for fostering the country’s innovation system by providing patent protections to inventors as stated in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution
Valencia Martin Wallace, Deputy Commissioner for Patents
As Deputy Commissioner for Patents, Ms. Martin Wallace manages and leads the Patents organization’s efforts related to international IP harmonization and provides executive oversight over patent-examining functions in technology centers that examine in the technologies of communication, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and medical devices and processes. Regarding international IP harmonization, she specifically provides executive leadership on international patent legal issues and various work sharing efforts with international partners.
Sharon Israel, Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs
Sharon Israel is the Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this position, she serves as a policy advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for IP and Deputy Director of the USPTO. She oversees the USPTO’s domestic and international policy matters related to intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement and on IP-related trade issues, including proposed legislation and international activities of the U.S. She also oversees the Office of Policy and International Affairs’ (OPIA) education and training programs through the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA); global advocacy initiatives through the IP Attaché Program; and economic analyses through the Office of the Chief Economist, among her many duties.
For questions or comments, please email WomenandIP@uspto.gov.
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