WIPO Manila Symposium examines the role of intellectual property education and research in economic growth and development
A two-day National Symposium on Intellectual Property Education, Training and Research, jointly organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines), held in Manila, on January 30 and 31, 2006, examined the state of intellectual property (IP) education, training and research in the Philippines and proposed a road map for better integrating IP in the process of national development. The Symposium brought together over 50 participants from academia, industry, the IP legal community and other stakeholders from different parts of the country.
In his key note address, Mr. Adrian Cristobal, Director General of IP Philippines, said that the organization of the Symposium was one of the initiatives of IP Philippines in pursuit of its new vision "to foster a creative and competitive Philippines that values, nurtures and uses IP for national development." He announced that an "IP Academy of the Philippines" would be set up by the middle of 2006 with the full support of the WIPO Worldwide Academy. This Academy would serve as a center of excellence in IP teaching and training, and support the implementation of a national intellectual property strategy in the country.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Yo Takagi, Executive Director, Office of Strategic Planning, Policy Development and WIPO Worldwide Academy, observed that strategic cultivation and deployment of IP resources would promote national innovation, creativity and competitiveness. Warmly welcoming the creation of an IP Academy of the Philippines, Mr. Takagi offered to extend the full cooperation of WIPO and the WIPO Worldwide Academy in fostering the development of IP human resources in the Philippines.
A number of issues were raised during the two days of discussion, including raising the level of IP awareness and knowledge among the stakeholders through education and training programs; developing partnerships and networks with universities and individual educators for the institutionalization of IP courses/programs; promoting the inclusion of IP in basic and secondary education; conducting research to broaden IP knowledge and strengthen the competencies of IP professionals; building policy research capacity to improve the legal and policy infrastructure; and advancing the countrys interests and IP presence in international fora.
