Author: Dr. Marsha S. Cadogan|Canaan Bridges Consulting | 3 min read
Increasingly, women are becoming business owners, are involved in advanced research and education, and are creators and inventors of various goods and services. However, gender inequality still persists. There are a growing number of initiatives that focus on creating opportunities for gender parity in all economies. In 2020 and beyond, one progressive move for intellectual property and innovation projects is to include women economic empowerment initiatives as among their target points.
Here are two helpful points in developing the connection:
- As the technology age progresses, it is time to re-shape how we engage with IP. Moving away from perspectives that designate specific aspects of IP as being applicable to mostly women is a must for 2020 and beyond. Access to and encouragement to pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) based programs are catalyst for women and girls to become innovative contenders in the IP space. As much as innovation depends on some form of human element, the global pace of innovation is waiting on no-one. When more women are given the opportunity to pursue STEM-based fields (other things being equal), there is a greater likelihood that the number of IP rights holders who are females will increase. Further, backed by business know how on how to monetize and manage IP, females can become more economically empowered.
- The right market knowledge and access to solid capital resources are two vital ingredients to sustainable development in the mid-21st century. Programs that help increase the market knowledge of female entrepreneurs are a plus for 2020. Why? A business that knows its products and services, has sound knowledge about its target markets, knows how to commercialize and manage its IP (and actually does it), is more likely to be sustainable in the long term than one that does not. Initiatives that focus on business and market strategies such as courses, seminars, network building, and other similar projects can help to economically empower women entrepreneurs. Many women lack the financial resources to mobilize their creations and inventions as strong IP assets. This is where public-private partnerships that focus on grants, tax incentives, micro-financing or other funding initiatives can help women to build and remain in IP-intensive businesses. In addition, greater access to venture capital funding on reasonable terms is also helpful.
Consistency and sustainability are important keys in developing sustainable intersections. Encouraging these initiatives as aspects of IP and innovation projects are steps toward investing in sustainable growth in economies.
For help in developing women economic empowerment initiatives as aspects of IP and innovation strategies contact: [email protected]
