Women in IP: Bangladesh Prospectives

Over the past few decades, women have increasingly ventured into diverse fields of technology, including space research. The success in narrowing gender gaps can be attributed to initiatives aimed at eliminating discrimination and raising awareness among women. Despite progress, women still face significant disparities in certain domains, such as the Intellectual Property (IP) system and careers. A major factor contributing to this discrepancy is the lack of publicity surrounding IP, resulting in a dearth of knowledge.

In 2019, Bangladesh achieved a milestone by becoming the sole South Asian country to break into the top 100 of the Global Gender Gap Index, reflecting advancements in bridging gender disparities. Bangladeshi women are making significant strides in various fields, showcasing their talent and creativity globally.

However, a concerning trend persists, with only a small fraction of women fully grasping the concept of Intellectual Property and leveraging its benefits. According to data from the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), female applicants constitute a mere 16% of total patent applications, a figure even lower in Bangladesh.

The question arises: why do Bangladeshi women lag in this aspect? The primary answer lies in the lack of awareness about IP. Individuals are naturally less inclined to engage with subjects about which they have little knowledge. Only a select few women, possessing exceptional qualities, venture into gaining knowledge and experience despite facing ambiguity and ignorance.

Women often prefer collaborative roles, especially in research, and tend to rely heavily on their teams. In matters concerning Intellectual Property, women’s opinions or decisions are often given low priority. Furthermore, the prevailing mentality within authorities undermines a woman’s legal IP claims, eroding confidence and impeding progress. Even successful women often neglect claiming their IP rights, despite numerous examples of women excelling in fields where they possess expertise and dedication.

To address this awareness gap, it is imperative to initiate more discussions on IP because any highly discussed topic naturally draws human attention. The Government of Bangladesh, specifically the Department of Patents, Designs & Trademarks under the Ministry of Industries, can play a pivotal role. While commendable events are organized annually, expanding outreach. through offline collaborations with diverse stakeholders and online platforms is crucial.

Partnering with organizations dedicated to women’s career development and leveraging digital marketing can enhance impact. Both offline and online training should be emphasized, enabling talented women nationwide to participate and showcase their abilities. In addition to increasing women’s involvement in IP, the DPDT should leverage its multifaceted functions to raise awareness among women. Collaboration among women working in the IP field is essential, leading to the establishment of an organization focused on enhancing IP awareness. Through seminars, workshops, training programs, and publications, women can be informed and encouraged to actively participate in this domain. Recognising and honoring women’s contributions in IP through media coverage will boost confidence and motivation.

WIPO undertook numerous programs with a specific focus on IP mentoring for female entrepreneurs around the world. The WIPO academy offers free online IP- related courses for women which is open to all. Some of these courses are specially designed for female researchers and innovators. WIPO also offers IP diagnostic tools for free. Such mentoring programs provide women with guidance and knowledge on how to protect and leverage their IP assets for business development.

For example, 70 women entrepreneurs in Uganda, Africa have registered their trademarks through WIPO’s IP for Women Entrepreneurs project. Caroline Matoru is one such entrepreneur and role model of the project. She joined the program as a trainee. After successfully implementing the knowledge she gained, she is now serving as a consultant under the program. Similar mentoring programs transformed 150 women in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Nguyen Minh Tan has been able to take his innovative technology to the next step by following the advice of IP specialists. As a result, Minh Tan has filed an international patent application file for his invention’s regional patent to enter the international market.

What did we leam from this? Our lesson from this is that we need to promote such success stories or stories of role models so that women around the world are encouraged and motivated to be aware of their own initiatives’ IP protection and proper use.

The good news is, that 25 women entrepreneurs are being mentored through the WIPO Bangladesh project “Use of Intellectual Property Tools by Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh for Generation of Product Value and Economic Growth.” After completion of their training, we must carefully select our role model from these trainees whose success stories will inspire other women to learn about their enterprise IP, take IP protection, and improve the branding of their enterprise and the quality of their products or services through its proper use.

The theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2023, “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity, aligns with the collaborative efforts of DPDT and WIPO in nurturing potential women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. This pilot project holds promise for cultivating future female leaders in IP.

Author: President, e-Commerce Development Center (EDC).