Entries RSS
This year’s World Intellectual Property Day on April 26 focused on promoting green innovation as a key element in meeting the challenges of climate change In his message to mark the day, WIPO Director General Francis Gurry highlighted the contribution that a balanced intellectual property (IP) system can make in enabling the development of technology-based solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The first to convert the discussion to action was the UK Intellectual Property Office when it announced that green inventions will be fast tracked through the patent process. David Lammy, Minister for Intellectual Property, announced the launch an initiative which will enable inventions with an environmental benefit to be given priority within the patent system.
There is speculation that companies in countries like India and China will take the lead in terms of green innovation. As per an Economic Times article a project by the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an Indian organization, has resulted in a solar powered rickshaw with a top speed of 15 km an hour and a range of 50-70 km. The rickshaw runs on a 36-volt battery that can be replaced at a local solar-power charging station. The vehicle is now being tested in Delhi with the aim of replacing some of the city’s 500 000 rickshaws. If successful, the soleckshaw as it is called, will provide a clean and relatively speedy option for moving around crowded Indian streets.
Another innovation in China produced an inexpensive solar powered car. The car has a sticker price of just over $5000 with a range of up to 150 km. The tiny Chery QQ clone has been fitted with roof mounted solar panels that absorb 95% of the solar energy coming in. Although not luxurious, the vehicle may still be attractive to the rising middle class population in China
The concept behind this speculation is simple – companies in emerging economies innovate in the face of price sensitivity, although their consumers have lower expectations. In the green sector emerging economy players have an additional motivation in the fact that they are often based in countries that are much more polluted than developed nations. There is market demand as well as government impetus to come up with inexpensive ways to clean up the air and water.
The WIPO initiative and a trend following the developments of green inventions being fast tracked through the patent process in the United Kingdom by other nations can kick start a movement where IP will have a definite role to play in mitigate the impact of climate change.
