Geneva, November 13–14, 2025 | Organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will convene the Third Expert-Level Roundtable on Fostering South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) for Intellectual Property and Development on November 13–14, 2025, in Geneva. This high-level dialogue will bring together policymakers, development practitioners, and experts from across the Global South to exchange experiences and chart new pathways for inclusive and sustainable innovation.
At the heart of this exchange stands the International Labour Organization (ILO), whose participation will emphasize the essential social and human dimensions of innovation. Representing the ILO, Ms. Anita Amorim, Head of the Emerging, Special and South-South Partnerships Unit, will frame the opening session on “South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a Catalyst for Social, Economic, and Cultural Development.”
The ILO’s Perspective: Innovation for People and Planet
From the ILO’s standpoint, South-South and Triangular Cooperation is more than a framework for technological progress — it is a model for solidarity, equality, and shared prosperity. SSTC enables countries to co-create knowledge and adapt solutions to their specific contexts, ensuring that innovation translates into decent work, social protection, and inclusive growth.
Through this lens, the ILO connects innovation directly to its Decent Work Agenda, ensuring that new technologies and IP-driven growth serve not only markets but also workers, communities, and the environment. The Organization promotes cooperation that links economic progress with social justice, a perspective often missing from purely technological approaches to development.
ILO in Action: Cooperation that Delivers
The ILO’s participation in the Roundtable builds on decades of South-South experience in areas such as the social and solidarity economy, creative industries, and inclusive digital transformation. Initiatives like the Trade for Decent Work project in Madagascar and the All Hands in Kenya programme demonstrate how triangular partnerships can enhance labour standards, empower youth, and create sustainable enterprises.
In the context of intellectual property and innovation, the ILO promotes mutual learning and horizontality — cooperation among equals that values both traditional knowledge and emerging creative practices. Its tripartite model, uniting governments, employers, and workers, ensures that innovation ecosystems remain inclusive, fair, and responsive to real-world needs.
Building Synergies with WIPO
The collaboration between WIPO and the ILO reflects a shared commitment to harness innovation for sustainable development. While WIPO strengthens IP systems and innovation capacities, the ILO ensures that the social and employment dimensions of innovation remain central. Together, these institutions champion cooperation that is both technically robust and socially inclusive.
Towards Shared Prosperity
As the world navigates complex global challenges, South-South and Triangular Cooperation offers a people-centered path forward — one rooted in partnership, equality, and shared learning. The ILO’s engagement at this Roundtable will underscore that innovation must be designed not just for efficiency or growth, but for empowerment, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods.