Training Course: Basic IP Knowledge
The project’s first stage was a training course held from November to December 2024, with 40 folk craft artisans from across Ukraine participating. During three weeks of online sessions, participants learned how intellectual property can protect their creative achievements, promote unique crafts, and scale their businesses.
The course featured interactive tasks, group work, and consultations with leading national and international experts. Alongside national speaker Yuliia Prokhoda and WIPO Academy experts Dina Wehbe, Omer Hiziroglu, Nina Mehrez, and Amani Qaddoumi, participants explored key IP protection tools, business strategies, and modern market promotion approaches.
Experts engaged in the training course within the project “The Role of Intellectual Property in Preserving the Nation’s Code
Mentorship Program: Tailored Business Development Strategies
The second stage, held in March–April 2025, was a mentorship program with six highly motivated artisans selected from the first stage. Working alongside project mentor and Ukrainian patent attorney Yuliia Prokhoda, participants developed personalized strategies for brand protection, trademark registration, market analysis, and business expansion in Ukraine and abroad.
This individualized approach allowed participants to transform training knowledge into practical action.
One participant, artisan Olha Fedynchuk, shared her feedback:
«Participating in the mentorship program for folk craft artisans helped me develop a growth strategy for my brand. Thanks to this collaboration, I officially filed an application to register my trademark, «FEDYNCHUK». Registering a trademark is not just a formality—it is a crucial step for anyone who wants to protect and grow their business. I am sincerely grateful to the IP Academy of UANIPIO and the WIPO Academy for the opportunity to be part of this project!»
Olha Fedynchuk
IP Dialogue with Artisans: A Large-Scale Offline Event in Kyiv
Photo: © Oleksandr Shymbarovskyi, 2025
The project’s final stage was an offline event, «IP Dialogue with Folk Craft Artisans», held on May 21, 2025, in Kyiv. The event gathered project participants, IP experts, and representatives from the public sector, creative industries, and cultural organizations.
The discussions focused on current challenges, legislative initiatives, international practices, and the government’s role in preserving and developing folk crafts.
The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, and the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education.
Quotes from the Dialogue:
«This is a powerful project that connects generations — past, present, and future. It became possible thanks to the involvement of Ukraine’s IP Office and its IP Academy. The project contributes to preserving cultural heritage, passing it down, and embedding it, which is particularly important to the younger generation.»
Virág Halgand, Head of the Central European, Baltic and Mediterranean Countries Section, WIPO
«Today’s event is not the end of UANIPIO’s efforts to support crafts — it’s just one of the next steps. We will continue to not only talk about achieved results but also implement practical actions and recommendations. I want to see dozens, even hundreds, of our geographical indications protected in the EU and worldwide — not only in food and wine but also in crafts and folk arts. From December 2025, the EUIPO will begin registering these indications, and Ukraine has much to be proud of.»
Olena Orliuk, Director of the IP Office
«Both the law and the registry are not only about preserving heritage but about building a modern cultural policy management system in the field of folk crafts. They create a foundation for transparent record-keeping, analytics, and support — transforming the state from reactive to strategic.»
Anastasiia Bondar, Deputy Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization at the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine
The final panel «The Code of Traditions in Patterns: The Story of the Krolevets Towel» focused on the unique weaving traditions of the Sumy region. Museum representatives, local authorities, and Krolevets artisans discussed symbolism, techniques, and preservation of this cultural code.
Participants viewed authentic Krolevets towels and joined a traditional weaving workshop.
Photos: © Oleksandr Shymbarovskyi, 2025
Practical Materials: Guide, Checklist, Digest
Within the project, IP Academy and the WIPO Academy developed practical materials for those working in folk crafts or interested in preserving cultural heritage:
- Guide «Intellectual property for folk craft artisans» – a practical handbook explaining how IP works and why it is vital for preserving and developing traditional crafts.
- Checklist «Nine steps to business scaling» – a tool for artisans aiming to grow their enterprises and promote traditional Ukrainian crafts.
- Digest «Folk crafts: a journey through the traditions of the world» – a collection of registered geographical indications from Ukraine and abroad.
According to Mariia Bychkivska, WIPO Academy Project Coordinator:
«During wartime, the need to preserve the nation’s code and our folk crafts has grown significantly. That is why this project was designed to give artisans guidance on how to protect and promote their heritage internationally. These publications reflect their questions, needs, and practical solutions.»
Mariia Bychkivska, WIPO Academy Project Coordinator
The project results confirm that intellectual property is a key tool for safeguarding traditions and supporting the sustainable development of creative activities.
IP Academy will continue launching initiatives to support artisans, fostering professional growth, strengthening cultural identity, and expanding opportunities internationally.