The strength of a country’s IP environment is a catalyst for innovation, and it incentivizes individuals to pursue their creative endeavors. Our 2019 International IP Index Report revealed that the U.S. continues to be at the forefront of IP, leading the 50 global economies assessed. Many countries are following suit with progressive IP policies that are supporting creators and boosting economies worldwide.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, we met and spoke with Watergen, one of the most impressive companies that presented at CES and the recipient of CES’s Best Innovation Technology Award for their technology that provides access to clean, natural water. Starting from a simple mission—to provide drinking water to people everywhere—their efforts have improved the lives of millions worldwide, and it wouldn’t have been possible without IP.

Watergen uses proprietary cutting-edge, patented GENius technology to turn humidity in the air into clean, fresh drinking water. Incredible – especially because access to clean drinking water is an issue long-forgotten in many developed economies. Unfortunately, it still remains a pressing humanitarian challenge, according to a recent report by Wateraid, an estimated 844 million people globally lack access to clean water.

“[IP] is absolutely crucial. If you can’t control your intellectual property rights, you have nothing,” Ed Russo, CEO of Watergen USA, told us. “[The Watergen] algorithm senses the temperature, the relative humidity, and barometric pressure, and it folds the air onto itself which drives the dew point. Well, that’s really difficult to do, but we know how to do it…it’s extremely important, especially in this country and all countries, that we protect our intellectual property rights.”

While companies such as Watergen push to address these challenging issues, we must work to protect their IP. Patents secure a creator’s engineering process and safeguard their product. They also prevent falsified and counterfeit filtration devices, which can pose life-threatening risks to consumers. Not limited to international work, Watergen’s product also provided critical support during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017.

Intellectual property creates the foundation for companies like Watergen to improve the lives of millions of people. It’s essential that all economies work together to build a culture of innovation and foster this level of growth for a new generation of creators and entrepreneurs.