World Intellectual Property Day, 26 April 2023
World IP Day is an opportunity to highlight the role that Intellectual Property rights, such as patents, trade marks, industrial designs, and copyright play in encouraging innovation and creativity.
This year the theme set by WIPO is “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity" celebrating the “can do" attitude of women inventors, creators and entrepreneurs around the world and their ground-breaking work.
Intellectual Property Office of Irelandas part of this celebration #WorldIPDay, are conducting a 5-day social media campaign this week highlighting Irish women entrepreneurs who have recognised the value of protecting their intellectual property and shown the importance of IP as part of their business strategy.
The five successful Irish female innovators and entrepreneurs we are showcasing are:
 Gráinne Mullins Grá Chocolates |  Aine Kennedy The Smooth Company |  Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh Sugru |  Dr Joanne Reilly Kinvara Skincare |  Sharon Keegan Peachylean |
Gráinne Mullins – Creator of Grá Chocolates
Grá Chocolates is a luxury, artisan brand of hand painted chocolates, produced sustainably from local ingredients. An award-winning pastry chef, Gráinne was recognised as one of Forbes 2023 “30 under 30 in Europe". Based in Galway, her chocolates have won many awards and are stocked by some of the world's leading hotels as well as Irish retailers Brown Thomas.
(Permission for use of image granted by Ms Mullins)
Aine Kennedy – Creator of The Smooth Company
CEO and founder of The Smooth Company, Aine Kennedy was named as one of the Sunday Independent 30 under 30 Irish businesspeople to watch. Aine launched her successful business on TikTok in 2022 and is best known for her “Smooth Stick" product, a premium hair taming wand.
(Permission for use of image granted by Ms Kennedy)
Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh - Creator of Sugru
Creator of Sugru mouldable glue (a multi-purpose adhesive product that resembles modelling clay). Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh's game changing creation has won several awards, such as the European Patent Office Inventors Award. It also featured in London's Design Museum and has delivered over 20 million fixes in 178 countries.
(Image reproduced from sugru.com website)
Dr Joanne Reilly – Creator of Kinvara Skincare
Dr Joanne Reilly is the creative force behind the Irish plant-based skincare range Kinvara.Made in Ireland, with no artificial colours or fragrances, this range of skin care products has gained a cult following since it was first founded in 2012.
(Permission for use of image granted by Dr Reilly)
Sharon Keegan – Creator of Peachylean
Sharon Keegan is the creator and CEO of Peachylean, a fitness clothing brand, inspiring body confidence and boosting self-esteem in women. Sharon appeared on Dragons Den where she secured funding worth £100,000 to help expand her business in the UK and in Europe.
(Image reproduced from peachylean.com website)
Check out these daily articles on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagramand https://www.ipoi.gov.ie
#worldipday #womenip
Please also see Intellectual Property Unit's web page on World IP Day 2023 on the Department's website.
Further information on how to protect your Intellectual Property rights can be found on the Intellectual Property Office of Irelandwebsite.
Further information on World IP Day 2023 can be found on the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) website: World Intellectual Property Day 2023 – Celebrating Creativity & Innovation (wipo.int)