Francis Gurry (L) at the Presentation Ceremony of the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award 2024. [Photo/WeChat ID: Shanghai_IPA]
On Nov 23, the Shanghai Municipal Government presented the 2024 Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award to Francis Gurry, former director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and 49 other expatriates.
The award, established in 1989, honors foreign nationals for their significant contributions to Shanghai's economic development, social progress, and international exchanges.
Gurry, recommended by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to intellectual property and his impact on Shanghai's development and international relations. Rui Wenbiao, director general of the administration, participated in the award ceremony.
A distinguished leader in global intellectual property, Gurry has supported Shanghai's ambition to become an international intellectual property hub. Under his leadership, WIPO and the Shanghai Municipal Government signed two Memoranda of Understanding, facilitating projects like the WIPO Master's Degree in Intellectual Property Law in Shanghai. This collaboration has deepened over the years, yielding substantial results.
In March 2021, Gurry was appointed as a special advisor to the ninth decision-making advisory committee of the Shanghai Municipal Government. He also serves as a board member of Tongji University, honorary dean of the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, and honorary professor at several universities in Shanghai. In 2023, he received the Chinese Government Friendship Award.
