University joins forces with WIPO for first UK joint Master’s in intellectual property – News
Professor Alison Fell and Daren Tang, WIPO Director General
The University of Liverpool has partnered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to offer a new Master of Laws (LL.M) in intellectual property (IP), Innovation and Sustainable Creative Industries.
Set to be WIPO’s first joint Master’s programme in the UK and the 21st worldwide, the course opens to professionals and students looking to upskill in these areas in autumn 2027.
To formalise the partnership, University of Liverpool delegation visited WIPO HQ in Geneva to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with WIPO’s Director General Daren Tang, Kumar Iyer UK Ambassador to the United Nations and David Humphries, Deputy Director for Research, Economics and Evidence at the UK Intellectual Property Office.
The new Master’s programme will offer a transdisciplinary approach, with a mixed cohort from legal and non-legal backgrounds spanning law, arts, music, science, technology and business.
Flexible pathways will cover international IP, new technologies, creative industries, platform regulation, branding and commercialisation, sustainability and life sciences.
Graduates will be equipped to face future challenges, such as understanding how AI works and what it means for IP in practice.
The Liverpool delegation included Professor Alison Fell (Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), Dr Georgia Jenkins (IP LL.M Director) and project lead Sabine Jacques (Professor of Intellectual Property Law; IP & AI Policy Lead at MusicFutures).
Liverpool named City of Innovation at Geneva ceremony
The day of the signing also saw WIPO name the first ever ‘City of Innovation’ as Liverpool having impressed the 9-strong international, independent jury with its bold, inclusive vision of ‘innovating for tomorrow’. Liverpool is one of the three cities winning alongside Charleroi (Belgium) and Shanghai (China).
Led by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, and Sci-Tech Daresbury, Liverpool’s winning ‘City of Innovation’ bid pledged to scale up activities to unlock the creative and growth potential of its diverse communities and business base, to further transform the entire city region.
Aligned with MusicFutures, the new Master’s in IP, Innovation and Sustainable Creative Industries maps directly to Liverpool’s innovation vision, especially in areas such as academia working with industry, government and citizens, expanding IP and commercialisation support, and inclusive innovation.
Professor Alison Fell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, said: “Our new joint LL.M with WIPO reflects the University of Liverpool’s commitment to inclusive innovation – connecting academia with industry and government for wider societal impact. The programme will equip students and professionals from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge and skills to navigate the rapidly changing IP landscape, from AI and digital technologies to the creative industries, sustainability and life sciences.”
Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO: “This partnership between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the University of Liverpool and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) demonstrates how international organizations, governments and universities can work together to strengthen innovation ecosystems, develop human capital, and prepare future leaders to shape the innovation and creative economies of tomorrow. It represents an important milestone in WIPO’s expanding network of world-class academic institutions and strategic partners dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders in intellectual property, innovation, and the creative industries.”
David Humphries, UK IPO said: “The UK’s Creative Industries have global reach and influence, and it is vital that we equip future leaders with the skills and confidence to deal with rapid technological and social change – local, nationally and internationally. The UK IPO is therefore delighted to be able to support this exciting collaboration between the University of Liverpool and WIPO.”
Kumar Iyer UK Ambassador to the United Nations said: “Today’s innovators will create tomorrow’s jobs, industries and solutions. This partnership between the University of Liverpool and WIPO will give current and future innovators the intellectual property skills and confidence they need to turn innovation into impact.”
Enterprise at the University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a major contributor to innovation and economic growth in Liverpool City Region and has a significant patent portfolio. The University also continues to develop inventions and other forms of intellectual property arising from its research base via licensing, translational funding and industry partnerships. The University’s Enterprise Team supports researchers to protect and commercialise IP, translating research discoveries into new technologies, products and businesses. This activity plays an important role in driving innovation, attracting investment and supporting regional economic growth.
