The Law School's Creative and Innovative Economy Center is located in Foggy Bottom, but its projects can be found around the globe.
This month the center released a report on piracy of "Bollywood" movies - a name for the Indian film industry - and increasing the availability of medicine in order to solve the AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. In May, the group will be hosting events in Brazil and Colombia on their economies and bio-medical fields.
This center, an initiative unique to GW, was established in January 2006 and works with developing countries, diplomats and industry leaders. Some outside of GW researches have questioned the motivations of CIEC, claiming it is a lobbying group, but organizers said the group is research and education oriented.
The center's work in Latin America, Asia and Africa strive to outline and implement plans of action for solving health, bio-medical, cultural, media, judiciary and intellectual property problems.
"On Capitol Hill and throughout the international community the CIEC helps convey that we are recognized as being at the forefront of new technologies, research and development ideas to assist nations achieve potential," said Thomas Morrison, senior associate dean for Administrative Affairs at the law school.
CIEC Director Michael Ryan is a political economist who has been studying intellectual property for 10 years.
"I am unaware of any other university conducting research with this focus of creativity in developing countries. Not many think-tanks or NGOs are even concerned with this matter," Ryan said.
He added that GW's Law School was a perfect fit for CIEC in part because of its nationally top-ranked Intellectual Property program.
CIEC targets 10 to 12 countries, especially India, China and Brazil. Looking towards the future, Ryan wants to continue establishing progress toward positive development in these focus areas, rather than increase the number of countries researched.
This month the center released a report on piracy of "Bollywood" movies - a name for the Indian film industry - and increasing the availability of medicine in order to solve the AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. In May, the group will be hosting events in Brazil and Colombia on their economies and bio-medical fields.
This center, an initiative unique to GW, was established in January 2006 and works with developing countries, diplomats and industry leaders. Some outside of GW researches have questioned the motivations of CIEC, claiming it is a lobbying group, but organizers said the group is research and education oriented.
The center's work in Latin America, Asia and Africa strive to outline and implement plans of action for solving health, bio-medical, cultural, media, judiciary and intellectual property problems.
"On Capitol Hill and throughout the international community the CIEC helps convey that we are recognized as being at the forefront of new technologies, research and development ideas to assist nations achieve potential," said Thomas Morrison, senior associate dean for Administrative Affairs at the law school.
CIEC Director Michael Ryan is a political economist who has been studying intellectual property for 10 years.
"I am unaware of any other university conducting research with this focus of creativity in developing countries. Not many think-tanks or NGOs are even concerned with this matter," Ryan said.
He added that GW's Law School was a perfect fit for CIEC in part because of its nationally top-ranked Intellectual Property program.
CIEC targets 10 to 12 countries, especially India, China and Brazil. Looking towards the future, Ryan wants to continue establishing progress toward positive development in these focus areas, rather than increase the number of countries researched.
