From May 30 to 31, the inaugural conference of Global Urban and Rural Development Forum of Boao Forum For Asia (referred to as the " GURD"), co-hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia, the Sichuan Provincial Government, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), was held in Chengdu, Sichuan. As a key event of this forum, the WIPO GREEN results release event received widespread attention.
The results release event was organized by WIPO and hosted by Bluetech Clean Air Alliance (BCAA). As WIPO GREEN's strategic partner in China, BCAA has engaged in diversified cooperation with WIPO GREEN and, as a co-initiator, introduced WIPO GREEN's city acceleration projects to China.
The event was presided over by Ms. Liu Hua, the representative of WIPO in China. In the opening remarks, Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of WIPO, Mr. Zou Ling, WIPO GREEN Ambassador in China, Ms. Zhang Xiufei, Assistant Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of GCL Group, and Professor Jia Jing, Dean of the Institute of Data and Industry Integration and Doctoral Supervisor, each delivered speeches.
In her speech, WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying introduced that the WIPO GREEN database currently includes nearly 130,000 technologies from over 140 countries, facilitating more than 1,000 technology matches. China has been a close partner and staunch supporter of WIPO GREEN, contributing over 9,500 green technologies to the database. She expressed hope that this event would promote substantive progress in WIPO GREEN projects in China, believing that WIPO GREEN would help China steadily and rapidly implement the sustainable development agenda. She emphasized that as the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the development and protection of intellectual property, WIPO is dedicated to promoting urban and rural green development in collaboration with the Boao Forum for Asia and looks forward to working with participants to advance the green cause.
WIPO GREEN Ambassador in China and Chairman of the Green Development Forum Organizing Committee, Zou Ling, stated that the WIPO GREEN project not only provides an international cooperation platform for China's green development but also serves as a crucial force in promoting global sustainable development. Global technology companies such as Huawei, CATL, and GCL Group have applied to join the WIPO GREEN partner team, bringing new vitality and momentum to the project. He highlighted that the WIPO GREEN city acceleration project has accelerated the deployment and application of green technologies, and through this event, it will further promote the practical application of green technologies in more Chinese cities, demonstrating China's commitment and contribution to the global sustainable development agenda in the fields of green technology and intellectual property.
GCL Group Assistant Vice President Zhang Xiufei introduced that GCL Group focuses on strategic emerging industries such as new energy, innovating energy technology around silicon materials, lithium materials, carbon materials, and core materials for integrated circuits. She emphasized that to protect intellectual property and new productive forces in the face of global carbon neutrality demands, GCL has established a comprehensive R&D system and a robust intellectual property protection mechanism to safeguard GCL's cutting-edge technology. As a participant in WIPO GREEN's cooperation network in China, GCL looks forward to deeply integrating into the global green technology cooperation network and deepening collaboration with WIPO and other WIPO GREEN members.
Professor Jia Jing, Dean of the Institute of Data and Industry Integration, pointed out that in the digital computing era, promoting green economic development first requires a change in mindset. She hoped that under the leadership of the WIPO GREEN Ambassador in China, research institutions such as supercomputing and intelligent computing centers could be established to accelerate the transformation of technological achievements from research to industrialization. She emphasized that now is an era of global collaboration, with both China and the world taking action. WIPO GREEN's promotion of global green sustainable development relies on the cultivation of global innovative talents by research institutions, enterprises, and organizations focused on green development. This requires the joint efforts and cooperation of governments, enterprises, universities, and research institutions. Looking to the future, she stated, "When our efforts align with the times, they will have an undeniable impact on society."
Peter Oksen, WIPO’s Manager for Green Technology and Research introduced that WIPO GREEN is committed to linking existing technologies with real needs to promote solutions to global challenges. The WIPO GREEN database is its core tool, providing free, multilingual, and barrier-free access to connect technology seekers and providers, promoting the commercialization of green technologies. The WIPO GREEN city acceleration project focuses on specific geographic areas to provide innovative solutions to local green needs. Peter Oksen also introduced the latest third edition of the WIPO "Green Technology Manual," focusing on energy in the context of climate change. The previous two editions of the "Green Technology Manual" focused on climate change adaptation technologies and mitigation technologies. Currently, the WIPO "Green Technology Manual" includes over 600 technologies to address climate change, available for free download on the WIPO website.
Mr. Tonny Xie, Director of the BCAA, introduced the experience of the WIPO GREEN City Acceleration Project Beijing pilot. In 2021, the WIPO GREEN City Acceleration Project was established in China, with the support of the Beijing Intellectual Property Office, and the world's first pilot landed in Beijing, accelerating green technology innovation and promoting urban green development. So far, the Beijing pilot project has facilitated the signing of 9 cooperation memorandums between technology demand and supply parties, successfully matched and implemented 3 demonstration projects, and organized a series of acceleration activities such as green technology evaluations, IP strategy training, and demand-supply matching. The achievements of the Beijing pilot project have been showcased at important platforms such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Zhongguancun Forum, the Boao Forum for Asia, and the WIPO GREEN 10th anniversary celebration. Mr. Tonny Xie expressed the hope that new cities joining the WIPO GREEN City Acceleration project would inspire more innovative ideas and looked forward to WIPO introducing the IP Management Clinic project (IPMC) to China to help Chinese green technology SMEs effectively and strategically utilize intellectual property to support innovative development.
A major highlight of this event was the announcement of new cities joining the WIPO GREEN City Acceleration project and new partners joining WIPO GREEN, which attracted widespread attention. WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying announced that Shanghai and Chongqing would join the WIPO GREEN City Acceleration project, and Huawei, GCL, CATL, and the Chengdu Intellectual Property Exchange would become WIPO GREEN's four new partners. WIPO representatives and representatives of the new cities and new partners took the stage together to demonstrate their firm commitment to sustainable development and a green future. WIPO Director General Daren Tang stated in his opening remarks at the Boao Green Development Forum that with the addition of Chongqing and Shanghai, the WIPO GREEN City Acceleration project is entering an exciting new phase, and WIPO looks forward to working closely with partners in these two cities to further promote green innovation and its applications.
The Boao Green Development Forum attracted policymakers, business executives, economists, and media leaders from Asia and around the world. Guests included Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice Chairman, Huang Qiang, Governor of Sichuan Province, Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO (via video), former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Gu Shengzu, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Shamshad Akhtar, Yang Chuantang, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, and Zhang Jun, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia.
