Beginning October 9, a delegation of 20 judges, policymakers and corporate executives from China will convene at the Haas School of Business for a new training program on innovation and intellectual property rights (IPR). The interdisciplinary curriculum will be taught by professors from Haas; Boalt Hall and the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology; and the UC Berkeley School of Information.
The 10-day course is the first of the “Berkeley China Innovation and IPR Leadership Program” aimed at strengthening intellectual property protection and enhancing business innovation in the world’s most populous country. Earlier this year, a Chinese delegation led by Duan Richun, a former top negotiator on IPR for China in World Trade Organization talks, traveled to Berkeley to sign a memorandum of understanding to launch the program.
The training comes as China faces increasing pressure from business and government leaders to crack down on piracy and strengthen its regulatory systems. With multidisciplinary centers and faculty expertise in business innovation, information technologies, electronic commerce and patent law, UC Berkeley is in a unique position to assist its Chinese colleagues.
On October 19, the Chinese delegation will meet with U.S. policymakers, high-level executives and Berkeley faculty members for a closed door discussion. The day-long meeting will give influential government officials an opportunity to work collaboratively on IPR and business innovation strategies. Leaders from the across the UC community—Dean Edley, Boalt Hall School of Law; Dean Tom Campbell, Haas School of Business; and Dean AnnaLee Saxenian, the School of Information—will facilitate the program.