Launch of the Project «Women Innovation and Startup Empowerment Program»

Women in Innovation: From Idea to Implementation

The new international IP Academy project provides women innovators with knowledge, practical tools, and mentorship to implement their own projects. The program is part of the «Women Innovation and Startup Empowerment (WISE) Program» initiative and combines learning, hands-on practice, and personal development.

The project consists of two stages:

• Training Course – Online sessions focusing on intellectual property, innovation, and commercialization of participants’ developments.
  
• Mentorship Program – Individual mentorship for selected participants with international experts guiding them on integrating acquired knowledge into their business practices.

Who Can Participate

• Female students, graduate students, and lecturers in technical fields, seeking to better understand intellectual property protection and commercialization mechanisms.
• Women inventors, researchers, and scientists, looking for practical tools to register their inventions, launch startups, and join a community of leading innovators.
• Girls studying or planning a career in STEM, eager to work at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Benefits for Participants

During the training course, participants will:

• Learn about legal aspects of intellectual property protection and its role in business;
• Gain skills in branding, marketing, pitching, and attracting investments;
• Explore practical cases presented by national and international experts.

Upon completing at least 80% of the sessions, participants will receive a certificate of program completion.

Speakers of the Training Course

The first stage brought together national and international experts in intellectual property, innovation, entrepreneurship, and marketing, invited by the WIPO Academy, KIPO, and IP Academy:

• Kyung-Ae Cha, CEO of ORBITN Co., Ltd., Director of the Korea Women Inventors’ Association (at the invitation of the WIPO Academy)
• Louis Foreman, Founder & Chief Executive of Enventys, an integrated product design and engineering firm (at the invitation of the WIPO Academy)
• Christoph Dobrusskin, Senior Function Developer, Phillips (at the invitation of the WIPO Academy)
• Tim Jung, CEO & Founder of Starget, a global crowdfunding agency (at the invitation of the WIPO Academy)
• Olha Kulinich, Head of the IP Academy Department, UANIPIO
• Anna Tkachuk, Intellectual Property Professional of the 1st category, UANIPIO
• Yuliana Zukh-Kipriianova, professional in innovation activity, TISC Network Development Department, UANIPIO
• Marina Zenova, Head of Innovation Ecosystem Development, UANIPIO
• Halyna Shtohryn, Head of the Grant Coordination Activities Unit, UANIPIO
• Hanna Palahytska, Managing Partner of Hanna Palahytska Law Firm, (at the invitation of the WIPO Academy)
• Alina Bazhenova, Founder of the full-cycle branding agency «Futurist agency» (at the invitation of the WIPO Academy)

Why This Matters

Gender equality in intellectual property is not only a matter of fairness but also a powerful driver of development. Participation of women in innovation, entrepreneurship, and science has enormous potential.

Olena Orliuk, Director of the IP Office, emphasizes:

«This project, launched together with WIPO Academy and the Korean Intellectual Property Office, is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering women to commercialize their own innovations in today’s economy. The program fosters professional connections, develops entrepreneurial thinking, and lays the foundation for sustainable growth. We aim for Ukrainian women to gain not only inspiration but practical tools to transform their ideas into viable projects that contribute to national development and showcase Ukraine as a country that supports women’s leadership, science, and innovation.»

Olena Orliuk

Olha Kulinich, Head of IP Academy, adds:

«Women in STEM are game-changers—they think boldly, break stereotypes, propose unconventional solutions, and open new directions in science, technology, and society. Yet, even the most promising invention or technical solution cannot form the basis of a successful startup without proper legal foundations. Basic knowledge of intellectual property is not just an important tool—it is a critical necessity for every woman working at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.»

Olha Kulinich

Modality and Schedule

Dates: June 24 – July 17, 2025

• Days & Time: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 – 13:00
  
• Format: 8 online sessions via Zoom
  
• Language: Ukrainian translation provided

More details about the training course HERE