Today, we join people around the world in celebrating the amazing innovations and creative works that are made possible by intellectual property. This year's theme – Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity – highlights the important role that women play in driving innovation and creativity, and the need to ensure that they have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from the IP system.

Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to science, technology, and the arts. From Ada Lovelace, who is widely considered the first computer programmer, to Rosalind Franklin, whose work was crucial to the discovery of the structure of DNA, to Mary Shelley, who wrote the iconic novel Frankenstein, women have been instrumental in shaping the world we live in today.

But despite these contributions, women have historically been underrepresented in many fields, including those related to innovation and creativity. This has led to a lack of diversity in the ideas and perspectives that shape our world, and has limited the potential of intellectual property to drive progress and create value for all.

This World IP Day, let's commit to changing this. Let's work together to promote gender diversity in all fields related to innovation and creativity, and to ensure that women have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from the IP system. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of intellectual property to accelerate innovation, promote creativity, and build a more equitable and inclusive world for all.

So let's celebrate the amazing achievements of women in IP, and let's continue to work together to ensure that the IP system works for everyone!