Trade, Intellectual Property and the Knowledge Assets of Indigenous Peoples: The Developmental Frontier
Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 December 2010
Knowledge assets have come to play an increasingly important role in global, regional and national markets. For indigenous people their traditional knowledge is a unique and multidimensional asset. Such assets offer developmental possibilities. If these developmental possibilities are to be realised new institutional and governance approaches will have to evolve that are responsive to the needs and preferences of indigenous peoples.
This conference will discuss the linkages between trade, intellectual property, traditional knowledge assets (including traditional cultural expressions) and the development aspirations of indigenous peoples. What are the broader institutional and governance issues that will need to be considered if flourishing indigenous business enterprises based on traditional knowledge assets are to become a reality? The conference aims to share knowledge, ideas and experience of how markets and trade affect indigenous peoples and ways in which indigenous peoples might harness economic opportunities to benefit from and support their unique heritage of knowledge. The conference will have a particular focus on New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Australia.
The Conference Programme is available together with information about the call for papers.