The University of Rijeka will host the WIPO Summer School on Intellectual Property, which will be held from August 31 to September 11, 2026 on the University of Rijeka Campus, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization Academy (WIPO Academy), in cooperation with the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and the University of Rijeka (UNIRI) as the host.
The aim of the Summer School is to provide an opportunity for students at higher levels of study (graduate and postgraduate levels) and young professionals to gain more knowledge about intellectual property, and learn more about WIPO’s role in global intellectual property management.
The Summer School in Croatia is one of the summer schools held in different parts of the world, following the program of the original WIPO Summer School on Intellectual Property held at WIPO headquarters in Geneva. The program covers the most important areas of intellectual property, and is based on lectures, case studies, exercises and group discussions. The two-week summer school offers an invaluable educational program that covers the entire field of intellectual property. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will receive a Certificate of participation.
This year’s Summer School at the University of Rijeka is held in the modernly equipped classrooms of the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Rijeka, providing participants with a comfortable, stimulating, and pleasant environment for learning and work. A student restaurant and accommodation facilities are located nearby, enabling participants to enjoy a practical and comfortable stay throughout the duration of the program.
Who can apply? Applications for the Summer School can be submitted by students enrolled in higher levels of study (graduate and postgraduate studies, all disciplines), as well as young professionals from all fields.
What are the costs of participation? Participants are expected to cover the costs of participation fee, travel, accommodation and meals during their participation in the Summer School.
- Registration deadine: July 10, 2026;
- Registrations are to be made via the following link on the WIPO website;
- Information on the Registration fee and other important details about the summer school can be found on the WIPO website;
- More information about the programme and organizational aspects of the WIPO Summer School in Rijeka is available via the following link.
The organizers invite students and young professionals to apply to participate in the WIPO Summer School and gain advanced knowledge of intellectual property, its many dimensions, and its role in fostering innovation and new creative solutions. Representatives of RPOs are also kindly asked to promote and support the participation of students and young professionals in the WIPO Summer School in Rijeka.
Meet the Lecturers
We are pleased to introduce the experts who will provide participants with insights into contemporary challenges and practices in the field of intellectual property through an international and interdisciplinary perspective (more lecturers will be announced soon):
Prof. Ivana Kunda, PhD, is a Full Professor at the University of Rijeka Faculty of Law and a distinguished scholar in the fields of intellectual property, digital law, and private international law. With extensive international experience in research, teaching, and professional practice, she will offer participants of the WIPO Summer School in Rijeka valuable insights into contemporary challenges in the protection and management of intellectual property rights, particularly copyright, in a globally connected and digitalised world.
More information: UNIRI Ivana Kunda | LinkedIn
Prof. Katja Weckström, PhD, is Professor of Commercial Law (Lindroos) at the University of Eastern Finland Faculty of Law and a recognised expert in intellectual property, commercial law, and competition law. Her research focuses on contemporary challenges in IP protection within innovation-driven and digital environments. At the WIPO Summer School, she will introduce participants to the latest trends and challenges in intellectual property, with particular emphasis on trademark law and trade secrets.
More information: UEF Katja Weckström | LinkedIn
Jasmina Mutabžija, PhD, is a lawyer specialising in intellectual property, digital technologies, and contracts. She graduated summa cum laude from the WIPO-Turin LL.M. in Intellectual Property and earned her doctorate with research focused on the protection of biotechnological inventions. Her expertise bridges academic work and management practice in technology companies developing software, hosting infrastructure, and legal tech solutions. She will share her extensive experience on contemporary challenges in innovation protection, particularly in biotechnology and digital technologies.
More information: PAR Jasmina Mutabžija | LinkedIn
Prof. Vlatka Butorac Malnar, PhD, is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Rijeka, and an expert in competition law and European law. She is co-author of the book Competition Law and the Croatian contribution to Kluwer’s International Encyclopaedia of Competition Law. She will introduce participants to the key concepts and current issues in competition law, as well as its relationship with innovation and intellectual property in the European and international context.
More information: UNIRI Vlatka Butorac Malnar | LinkedIn
Mr. Mladen Vukmir is an attorney at Law Firm Vukmir and Associates, holds a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law, and is an authorised patent and trade mark representative before SIPO and the European Patent Office (EPO). He has served for many years as an advisor to domestic and international organisations, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Bank, and the European Commission, and is the author of numerous publications. At the WIPO Summer School, he brings extensive practical experience in patent and trade mark law, together with insights into the complex challenges of IP protection in practice and in cooperation with international institutions.
More information: Mladen Vukmir | LinkedIn
Ms. Gordana Turkalj is Head of the Patents Department at the State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia (SIPO). As a chemist, she has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and in the patent protection of innovations, including the development of patent strategies, assessment of patentability, and training of researchers. She will provide WIPO Summer School participants with a unique combination of experience from scientific research and patent examination, as well as practical insights into the protection of innovation in the fields of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
More information: SIPO Gordana Turkalj | LinkedIn
Contact
For additional information regarding registration, please contact the Summer School Coordinator at WIPO:
summerschool.croatia@wipo.int
For questions regarding payment of the participation fee and logistical information related to participation in the Summer School, please contact:
akademija@dziv.hr
For questions regarding the event venue, please contact the host:
University Centre for Research and Innovation – Department of Innovation and Knowledge Valorisation
inovacije@uniri.hr
UNIRI partner in the organization of the WIPO Summer School:
Faculty of Law in Rijeka, Professor Ivana Kunda, PhD
