Caribbean Regional Entrepreneurial Asset Commercialisation Hub REACH

 Regional Entrepreneurial Asset Commercialisation Hub  Three Year Project funded by the Inter- American Development Bank – US$900,  Executing Agency – The University of the West Indies  Steering Committee countries – Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

Rationale for a Focus on Intangible Entrepreneurial Assets  Strong legislative framework for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs);  However, after protection, how do companies commercialise their IPRs;  Effective strategies for monetizing intellectual assets are required to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean firms;  Scarce technical expertise and financial resources dedicated to the commercialisation of IPRs.

Project Objectives Objective: To foster innovation and competitiveness in Caribbean companies through the creation of a Regional Entrepreneurial Asset Commercialisation Hub (REACH) that will assist companies in commercialsing their intellectual assets.  The project will provide support services for improved management of IP assets in the following areas (i) Technology Commercialisation (i.e. patents, industrial designs and utility models) (ii) Creative Industries (i.e. copyright) and (iii) Product Branding (i.e. trade marks and geographical indications).

Project Objectives  To build IP Asset Management capabilities amongst SMEs;  To foster a culture of licensing;  Promote protection and monetization of IP assets;  Promote use of patents as sources of research;  Build capacity to provide support to inventors and innovators;  Collaborate with private sector, public sector, regional and international agencies.

Project Components  Component 1: Landscape Analysis and Survey  Component 2: Stakeholder Sensitization  Component 3: Building Commercialization Capabilities for Public and Private Stakeholders  Component 4: Sustaining Implementation of REACH

PARTNERS  WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANISATION  YOUNG AMERICAS BUSINESS TRUST  COMPETE CARIBBEAN  CARIBBEAN EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

REACH Activities… REACH ACTIVITIESDATE Startup Weekend – Trinidad and Tobago June 12 – 14 th 2015 REACH Online Survey REACH Caribbean Innovation Competition launch with YABT Available for online completion now September 10 th 2015 Business labs Barbados, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago Annual Film Incubator – Caribbean Tales October and November 2015 September 2015 Caribbean Innovation Competition (2015/2016) – September 2015 – April 2016 Landscape Analysis Component of project completed Project Launch Event in Suriname Technology Transfer Workshops February 2016 April 2016 April 12 th – 15 th 2016 (Trinidad and Tobago). Workshops will also be held in Barbados and Jamaica. Caribbean Innovation Competition (2016/2017) – Business labs September April 2017 October and November 2016 (Suriname and Jamaica) Geographical Indications Workshop August 2016 (Barbados – tentative) Startup Weekends Barbados and Jamaica4 th Quarter 2016

Project Activities DateEvent No. of attendees March 18 th – 20 th, 2015 Joint WIPO-EU/CARIFORUM Sub-Regional Workshop on GIs/Original Linked Products and Branding, Barbados 39 June 12 th – 14 th, 2015 Startup Weekend Trinidad and Tobago 70 July 21 st – 22 nd, 2015 Sub-Regional Workshop on Branding and the use of Geographical Indications in the Development of Management Strategies for Origin-Linked Products, Kingston, Jamaica 23

Project Activities September 10 th, 2015 Launch of REACH CIC, Barbados 21 October 19 th – 23 rd, 2015 Business Labs, Barbados14 November 9 th – 13 th, 2015 Business Labs, Belize23 November 16 th – 20 th, 2015 Business Labs, Trinidad and Tobago 14 November 30 th – December 2 nd, 2015 Joint WIPO/TTCIC/IDB Sub- regional Workshop on the Effective Management of IP Assets for small and medium sized enterprises, Westmoorings, Trinidad and Tobago 31

Project Activities –  734 people viewed the webinars under the REACH Caribbean Innovation Competition  151 teams registered for the REACH Caribbean Innovation Competition  April 2016 – Finalists in the REACH CIC announced.  June 2016 – winner of the REACH CIC will be announced and awards ceremony.

Project activities  Project launches – Suriname – April 2016 and in Jamaica and Barbados during the fourth quarter of 2016  Technology transfer workshops  Geographical Indications Workshops

Project Activities 2016  Development of Online Platform – in progress  Consultancies for creative industries, case studies and technology scouting mechanism to be published for receipt of proposals.

Main Expected Outcomes  Increasing market opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.  Securing deal flow for selected firms with growth potential. Professionals Trained Innovation Competitions Online Platform Year project Deal Flow Mentorship Programmes Technology: firms/entrepreneurs GI: firms/clusters Creative: firms/entrepreneurs

REACH Steering Committee Contacts  Barbados – Louis Woodroffe –  Belize –Koreen Flowers, Senior Assistant Registrar, Belize Intellectual Property Office  Jamaica – Lilyclaire Bellamy, Registrar, Jamaica Intellectual Property Office  Suriname – Kenneth Foe-A-Man –  Trinidad and Tobago – Kieron Swift - Lauren Boodhoo – Tene Reece, REACH Project Manager

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