GENEVA - Ten SMEs and startups are the winners of this year’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Awards, with products including antibody therapeutics, sign-to-speech gloves, next-generation memory chips and sustainable protein fermentation—breakthroughs that reflect the transformative power of intellectual property (IP) in improving lives, advancing technology, and building more sustainable communities, according to the official website of WIPO.
Now in its fourth edition, the WIPO Global Awards celebrate visionary entrepreneurs using IP not only to scale their businesses but also to deliver meaningful social and economic contributions. This year’s winners represent a diverse group of innovators tackling global challenges in health, environment, agri-food, the creative industries and ICT.
The ten winning SMEs and startups were selected from a pool of over 780 applicants spanning 95 countries, reflecting the global reach of the program.
“These awards highlight the role of IP in solving real problems and creating opportunities. This year’s winners show how the smart use of intellectual property can power growth, foster creativity and deliver solutions that benefit people around the world. I congratulate them and look forward to seeing how they continue to grow with IP as an important ally in their journey to the market,” WIPO Director General Daren Tang said.
The awards were presented during a ceremony held at WIPO headquarters in Geneva on 11 July 2025 as part of the WIPO Assemblies of Member States. Speaking at the event, the winners shared their ambitions to leverage WIPO’s support to strengthen their IP strategies, attract investment and reach new markets.
The winners of the WIPO Global Awards receive a suite of benefits designed to accelerate their growth:
• Tailored 1:1 mentoring to support IP commercialization, including fundraising and business development advice.
• Global visibility through WIPO platforms and partner networks.
• Long-term access to WIPO resources and advisory services on IP management.
• Full sponsorship to attend the Awards Ceremony and related networking events in Geneva.
The 2025 WIPO Global Awards Winners
Health:
1. SME: Hummingbird Bio, Singapore, antibody therapeutics
2. Startup: Glovatrix, India, sign-to-speech gloves
Environment:
3. SME: Carbfix, Iceland, CO₂ mineral storage
4. Startup: Urban Inventors, Sri Lanka, anti-flood drain system
Agri-food:
5. SME: PhageLab, Chile, antibiotic alternatives for livestock farming
6. Startup: Planetary, Switzerland, mycoprotein fermentation tech
Creative industries:
7. SME: ClicknClear, United Kingdom, music rights licensing
8. Startup: CodeGream, Republic of Korea, 3D product showcase
ICT:
9. SME: Unitree Robotics, China, advanced robotics
10. Startup: Quinas Technology, United Kingdom, next-gen memory chips
In a bid to further champion diversity and inclusion in innovation, the 2025 edition introduced two new special recognitions for award winners, unlocking supplementary benefits:
• Best Woman Entrepreneur 2025 – awarded to Edda Aradóttir, CEO of Carbfix (Iceland), this mention honors a woman whose visionary leadership and commitment to diversity stand out alongside her company’s efficient use of IP. Benefits are provided by She Loves Tech, a global accelerator for women-led startups, including mentorship from their CEO and a speaking slot at their global conference.
• Best Youth Entrepreneur 2025 – awarded to Aishwarya Karnataki, CEO of Glovatrix (India), this recognition highlights a young entrepreneur (under 35) whose purpose-driven leadership inspires beyond her invention. Support is provided by YE! at the International Trade Centre, a global platform for young entrepreneurs, including tailored access to their network and increased international visibility.
These new mentions underscore WIPO’s commitment to make the innovation ecosystem more representative of the world it serves.