In today’s dynamic environment, implementing global best practices in developing innovation ecosystems is essential for unlocking the creative potential of Ukrainian scientists and innovators. Intellectual property (IP) tools and commercialization mechanisms open up vast opportunities for strengthening the country's innovation infrastructure. They form a framework in which researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs can successfully implement their ideas, develop new technologies, and create competitive products for global markets.
To support this goal, the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO), in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), launched the “Empowering Women in Innovation and Startups” initiative. The aim of the program was to equip Ukrainian women with essential knowledge and practical skills related to the legal protection and commercialization of IP, startup development, and the promotion of technological solutions in today’s market.
The broad representation of motivated participants from various fields only confirmed the interest and understanding of the significance of the project topic within the framework of an international educational initiative. A representative of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, Natalia Ostapenko, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Fashion, Doctor of Technical Sciences, and Professor, also joined such a powerful and unique event. The training sessions were held online via Zoom on June 24, 26, July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 2025. Each of the eight sessions with interactive tasks lasted two hours and was informative. The moderator of the training course was Anna Tkachuk, a Category 1 intellectual property expert from the Training, Retraining, and Advanced Training Department of the Intellectual Property Academy of UANIPIO. Throughout the program, speakers, including leading national and international experts in intellectual property and innovations, made powerful professional speeches.
Hassan Klyab, Deputy Director General of the WIPO, Regional and National Development Sector, warmly and inspiringly addressed the participants with a welcoming speech and wished all participants fruitful constructive work.
Olena Orliuk, Director of UANIPIO, Doctor of Law, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, representative of the Academy of the WIPO, warmly welcomed everyone, and emphasized that in these conditions it is essential for the country to develop general and professional skills and cases, practices and experience of understanding work with innovations in different situations.
During the training sessions, participants were told about the legal protection and commercialization of the results of their creative, scientific, and technical activities, as well as about branding, marketing, pitching, and financing skills for developing their own business or startup.
In the first session on June 24, 2025, the topic “Introduction to the basics of intellectual property” was covered. Within the framework of this topic, the informative and valuable material of the first lecture “Fundamentals of intellectual property: key concepts, objects, subjects of intellectual property law and their rights” was presented by Olha Kulinich, Head of the Department “Academy of Intellectual Property” of UANIPIO. Speaker Anna Tkachuk, Category I intellectual property expert of the training, retraining, and advanced training department of the Intellectual Property Academy of UANIPIO, professionally explained the material of the second lecture, “How to ensure legal protection of the results of intellectual, creative activity: national and international approaches”. The moderator and lecturer of the second session on June 26, 2025 was Yuliana Zukh-Kipriyanova, a professional in innovation activities of the Department for the Development of the Network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers of the Innovation Development Department of UANIPIO, who fully covered the topic “Legal protection of industrial property objects: the procedure for submitting an application and obtaining a patent”. After an interactive survey, she conducted two meaningful lectures, “Step-by-step algorithm for compiling and submitting an application for inventions and utility models in Ukraine” and “Compiling and submitting an application for industrial designs in Ukraine”.
At the third session on July 1, 2025, speaker Christoph Dobruskin, Senior Functional Development Engineer at Phillips, at the invitation of the WIPO Academy, covered in detail the material on the topic “RsP and TRIZ Methods”, within the framework of which he delivered three creative lectures “Creative Tools for Innovators: Practical Methods for Generating Ideas and Solving Problems”, “RsP and TRIZ Methods: Principles, Advantages and Limitations of Application”, “Challenges in the Application of Creative Techniques: Difficulties and Ways to Overcome Them”.
In the fourth session on July 3, 2025, on the topic “From Idea to Market: Commercialization of Intellectual Property Objects” speaker Olha Khmara, Category 1 Intellectual Property Expert of the Innovation Ecosystem Development Department of the Innovation Development Department, systematically and interestingly delivered two lectures “Fundamentals of Commercialization of Intellectual Property Objects” and “Building a Strategy for Commercialization of Intellectual Property Objects for Entrepreneurs”.
The moderator and lecturer of the fifth session on July 8, 2025 was Olena Lytvynenko, a leading intellectual property expert of the Innovation Ecosystem Development Department of the Innovation Development Department of UANIPIO, who comprehensively covered the topic “From Idea to Market: Commercialization of Intellectual Property Objects” by delivering important lectures “Business Models for Inventors: Opportunities for Commercialization of Intellectual Property Objects”, “Development of a Business Plan: Effective Strategy for Intellectual Property Objects” and “Market Analysis and Market Entry: Product Launch and Sales Strategy”.
At the sixth session on July 10, 2025, the topic “Online Marketing and Branding” was comprehensively and inspiringly covered. At the invitation of the WIPO Academy, the lecture was delivered by Hanna Palahytska, Managing Partner of Hanna Palahytska Law Office – “Fundamentals of Branding: Brand Protection and Promotion through Trademarks”. The speaker of the second and third lectures was Alina Bazhenova, founder of the full-cycle Branding Agency “Futurist Agency”, who presented the topics “Digital Marketing for Startups: Tools, Platforms and Strategies for Development” and “How Women Entrepreneurs Can Stand Out in a Competitive Market”.
The seventh session on July 15, 2025, was dedicated to “Financing Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs”. Moderator Margherita Marini, IP Commercialization Specialist, IP Ecosystems and Innovation Sector, Intellectual Property for Innovators Department (IPID), Intellectual Property Commercialization Division of the WIPO, conducted an interactive survey: examples of funding, grants, and financing opportunities. Later, speaker Tim June, Founder and CEO of the International Crowdfunding Company “Starget”, at the invitation of the WIPO Academy, delivered two lectures: “Crowdfunding Basics: How to Raise Funding for Your Own Business” and “Strategic Cooperation: Partnering with Other Innovators to Develop a Business”. Speaker Halyna Shtogrin, Head of the Grant Coordination Department of the Innovation Development Department of UANIPIO, fully disclosed the topic “Grant Programs and Accelerators: Navigating State Financing and Support Programs”.
At the eighth session on July 17, 2025, within the framework of the topic “Women Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Success Stories and Pitching Secrets”, speaker Kyung-e Cha, CEO of ORBITN Co., Ltd., Director of the Korean Association of Women Inventors, at the invitation of the WIPO Academy, delivered a lecture “Women Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Examples of Successful Project Implementation and Key Aspects of Presenting Innovative Ideas”, spoke about successful cases, ideas and experience gained. Then, at the invitation of the WIPO Academy, Luis Forman, founder and CEO of Enventys, a company engaged in the design, production, and launch of innovative products, elaborated in detail on the topic of “Pitching: How to Effectively Present a Business Idea to Investors and Stakeholders” during an interactive lecture.
At the end of the program, the participants of the training course gained knowledge about the main types of intellectual property objects, identification of various methods of legal protection of intellectual property objects and their effective use in their own inventive and innovative activities; acquired skills in developing strategies for the commercialization of intellectual property objects and their use for the development of their own business, realized the importance of branding and the role of trademarks in the formation of a strong and recognizable business identity; understood the importance of key elements of a successful presentation and acquired skills in effectively presenting their developments to investors and potential partners to attract financing.
We express our gratitude to the State Organization “Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovation”, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office for the high organization and conduct of a powerful training course, an incredible source of inspiration, exchange of ideas, and belief in one’s potential!
29.07.2025
