UN agency signs cooperation deal with European nuclear research organization

The United Nations agency tasked with helping to protect intellectual property has struck a cooperation agreement with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), known as the world’s largest particle physics laboratory.

Francis Gurry, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Director General of CERN, signed the agreement last week in Geneva, WIPO announced today.

The pact focuses of four main areas: capacity building, awareness raising and knowledge sharing; transfers of technology and know-how; cooperation in the fields of technological, scientific and patent information; and alternative dispute resolution options.

Mr. Gurry said the agreement should provide mutual benefits to CERN and WIPO, which was established in 1967.

“CERN’s groundbreaking research in the field of particle physics is a fertile seedbed for innovation and technological development,” he noted. “This makes WIPO a natural ally in the mutual endeavour to facilitate technology transfer and to support enhanced and broad access to scientific and technological information.”