On the afternoon of November 23, the award ceremony for the 2024 Shanghai Magnolia Award was held. Professor Francis Gurry, Honorary Dean of the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property at Tongji University, received this prestigious honor.

Professor Gurry, the former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and a distinguished leader and expert in the field of international intellectual property, has been a steadfast supporter of China’s IP development. Under his guidance, WIPO and the Shanghai Municipal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014 and a supplementary agreement in 2018, strengthening a comprehensive cooperative framework. He played a key role in establishing the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center in Shanghai, providing robust support for Shanghai’s aspiration to become an international IP hub. Professor Gurry also serves as a specially appointed expert for decision-making consultation with the Shanghai Municipal Government.

He actively facilitated the establishment of the WIPO-Tongji joint Master of Laws program in Intellectual Property, marking its first implementation in China. Through his efforts, the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property has developed rapidly, contributing significantly to China's emergence as a strong IP nation and its active role in global IP governance by providing a solid talent foundation and support.

The Shanghai Magnolia Award, part of the city’s series of accolades for foreign contributors, was established by the Shanghai Municipal Government in 1989. It aims to recognize and encourage outstanding contributions made by foreign nationals to Shanghai’s economic construction, social development, and international exchange.