About

History

TIP's genesis lies in an in-depth, seven-year study of the role that patents and other intellectual property rights play in determining social, economic and cultural outcomes of biotechnology. Funded by the Canadian government and organized through McGill University's Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, the International Expert Group on Biotechnology, Innovation and Intellectual Property concluded that government, industry and NGOs lack independent, empirically-based expertise on how best to adapt intellectual property to the needs of modern society.

TIP was created in response to this need for an impartial and authoritative body to assess intellectual property. In doing so, TIP draws on the original study team that includes experts from developed and developing countries alike, and is comprised of experts in law, management, economics, philosophy, political science and health and agricultural sciences.

To learn more about the work carried out by the International Expert Group on Biotechnology, Innovation and Intellectual Property click here.