WIPO Global Awards 2025 for SMEs and Startups (Travel expenses covered to Geneva, Switzerland)

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If you’re a small business, a start-up, including a university spinout — from tech to fashion, media, music, design, agriculture, or any other industry—and you use Intellectual Property (IP) to create value, the WIPO Global Awards are for you, because they are the UN Award for inventors and creators.

Through this Awards Program, WIPO undertakes to celebrate SMEs that have used IP rights to commercialize innovative and creative products/services beyond their home country, and in the case of startups, for integrating IP into their business venture at an early stage, acknowledging the potential to commercialize their IP assets.

For the 2025 edition, they are introducing Special Mentions to recognize and reward the best woman and youth entrepreneur of 2025. The aim is to celebrate their successes and inspire more women and youth to pursue entrepreneurial paths.

The recipients of these Special Mentions will be selected from among the CEOs/founders of the winning companies by the WIPO Global Awards Selection Committee based on the same indicators established for the contest.

WIPO Global Awards Benefits

Winners will receive:

Travel to Geneva to attend the Awards Ceremony and special events (funded in accordance with WIPO’s rules),
A WIPO Trophy specifically designed for this Program,
Customized IP mentorship opportunities (considering, on a case-by-case basis, the business background and specific needs of the winners).
In addition, winners will be offered promotion, visibility and recognition through an Awards ceremony, special WIPO Awards webpage, WIPO media, and other external IP related media.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for SMEs

The Awards Program is open to all SMEs located in at least one of WIPO’s 193 Member States and meeting the following conditions:

It is a registered business entity. Proof of registration is required.
It has no more than 300 employees and up to 15 THEM$ millions of total annual sales.
It is a holder of at least one registered IP right.
It is exporting its products or services to at least one country.

Eligibility for startups

The Awards Program is open to all startups located in at least one of WIPO’s 193 Member States and meeting the following conditions:

The startup is a registered business entity with a legal existence of no more than three years. Proof of registration is required.
It has no more than 50 employees.
The startup has an innovative product or service associated with IP rights.
The startup has submitted at least one application for the registration of one IP right and/or is the holder of at least one registered IP right.
The startup is affiliated with a business support organization, such as an incubator, an accelerator, or a similar entity. Proof of affiliation is required.
The startup has affirmed its engagement with at least one commercial customer, and/or has completed a business sale, and/or secured one investor.