IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future

Every April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. World Intellectual Property 2022 recognizes the huge potential of young people to find new and better solutions that support the transition to a sustainable future.

Across the globe, young people are stepping up to innovation challenges, using their energy and ingenuity, curiosity and creativity to steer a course towards a better future. Innovative, energetic and creative minds are helping to drive the changes we need to move to a more sustainable future. Discover how intellectual property rights can support the youth of tomorrow to create a better future.

In 2022, the theme of World Intellectual Property Day is “IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future” and celebrates youth-led innovation and creativity.

The youth of today are an incredible and largely untapped source of ingenuity and creativity. Their fresh perspectives, energy, curiosity and “can do” attitude, not to mention their hunger for a better future, are already reshaping approaches and driving action for innovation and change.

World Intellectual Property Day 2022 is an opportunity for young people to find out how IP rights can support their goals, help transform their ideas into reality, generate income, create jobs and make a positive impact on the world around them. With IP rights, young people have access to some of the key tools they need to advance their ambitions.

Throughout the campaign, young people will be able to gain a better understanding of how the tools of the IP system – trademarks, design rights, copyright, patents, plant variety rights, geographical indications, trade secrets and more – can support their ambitions to build a better future.

We also take a closer look at WIPO’s role in supporting national and regional efforts to create a legal and policy environment for young inventors, creators and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Last year, we saw record levels of engagement in World Intellectual Property Day. With your help, World Intellectual Property Day 2022 will reach new heights.

Young people are the innovators, the creators and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Through their creativity and ingenuity, young people in all regions are driving change and carving pathways to a better future.

World Intellectual Property Day 2022 celebrates this exciting generation of change-makers.

Gen Z and Millennials: the creators of tomorrow

The youth of today are an incredible and largely untapped source of creativity and ingenuity. There are around 1.8 billion young people (aged 24) in the world today. Ninety percent of them live in developing countries. The proportion of young people (under 35) is set to increase in the coming years. In all regions, young people are natural agents of change, carving pathways to a better future.

Millennials and Gen Z are change-makers; they are pragmatists and are not afraid speak out and challenge the status quo. Today’s youth are digital natives. They grew up in a connected world with mobile phones and the Internet, where the lines the physical and digital world is blurred. This has shaped a generation that is arguably the most entrepreneurial, innovative and creative yet.

Calling all young people, wherever your ambitions lie – the arts, science, technology – a creative and innovative mindset backed-up with IP rights will help you make a difference. So get involved in this year’s campaign and find out what IP can do for you.

For policymakers everywhere, we call on you to listen to the needs and concerns of young inventors, creators and entrepreneurs and to develop policies and programs that nurture and support their endeavors to innovate for a better future.

Given the on-going COVID-related constraints, World Intellectual Property Day 2022 will be a hybrid campaign.

On April 26, the Intellectual Property Agency and the Federation of Creative Industries of Azerbaijan will hold a conference-webinar in joint organization on "Creative Economy: Innovations for the Future" on occasion of International Intellectual Property Day.