Small and medium-sized enterprises from China, Japan, the Netherlands and Singapore are the first-ever winners of WIPO's new Global Awards program, which recognizes exceptional enterprises and individuals using intellectual property (IP) to make a positive impact at home and abroad.

In an awards ceremony held during the July 14-22 WIPO Assemblies, Director General Daren Tang handed trophies to representatives of the five winners (in alphabetical order): Hydraloop from the Netherlands, Lucence of Singapore, Raycan from China, Shylon from China, and Japan-based Splink.

A group of seven eminent jurors from around the world selected the winners from among 272 submissions spanning 62 countries. These awards celebrate innovative commercial solutions, based on IP rights, which promote economic, social and cultural progress.

The inaugural Global Awards celebrated small and medium-sized enterprises, which constitute the backbone of the worldwide economy, and will focus on youth and women in the coming years.

"Early cancer detection, energy-saving lights, water recycling, dementia diagnosis and enhanced medical imaging: The winners of the inaugural WIPO Global Awards are each working to build a better world. Now our five winning SMEs will benefit from WIPO's support to help their business to grow," Mr. Tang said.

"I am proud that the newly launched WIPO Global Awards program is supporting exceptional individuals and enterprises using IP for positive change, while building a community of role models in keeping with our vision to ensure that IP use can benefit everyone, everywhere," he said.

Joining Mr. Tang in handing out prizes and welcoming winners was Chair of the WIPO General Assembly, Ambassador Tatiana Molcean, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.