About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

Supporting Innovation and Businesses – Dialogue Between IP Offices in Asia-Pacific, November 18 & 19, 2021

November 22, 2021

On November 18 and 19, 2021, the WIPO Singapore Office (WSO) and the IP for Business Division (IPBD) held an online regional workshop with a focus on supporting the transition of IP offices in the Asia-Pacific Region into innovation enablers. The webinar was organized in cooperation with the Singapore Cooperation Program (SCP) and with the assistance of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).

wso-news-li-845
(Photo: WIPO)

The workshop generated exchanges between the panelists and participants to assist IP Offices develop more services and support in their efforts to enhance business innovation and growth.

On the first day of the webinar, the speaker from WIPO presented WIPO’s work in mapping business support services offered by IP Offices in specific regions. The representatives from IP Australia and Israel Patent Office shared their experience and current initiatives in researching the needs and perceptions of businesses in order to provide better business support services. On the second day of the webinar, representatives from six IP Offices in the Asia-Pacific Region (Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia) presented their activities and new services to support enterprises in today’s business environment, as well as their cooperation with WIPO in this area.

Group discussion on how IP Offices can make changes to help businesses highlighted some of the challenges IP offices face in supporting businesses:

  • Lack of human resources with the required skills within IP Offices;
  • Lack of financial and technical capacities;
  • Structural challenges;
  • Digital transformation; and
  • Creating a “positive change of mindset” among SMEs toward embracing intellectual property.

It was underlined that in the current business environment, IP Offices need to contribute to wider IP awareness of businesses through various programs that inform and educate businesses about the value of registering, valuing, commercializing, and enforcing IPRs, including the benefits related to increased competitiveness and faster business development. IP Offices must also have agility in the services they provide and the way they promote them in order to adapt to the evolving needs of businesses. They also need to embrace their roll of key collaborator and partner with a multitude of stakeholders in the innovation and IP ecosystem and must use its unique position in the innovation ecosystem to connect common interests.

Participants shared their ideas through a survey on how WIPO could further shape its support for IP Offices in moving beyond their traditional roles as registries of IP rights towards a more proactive role as an enabler and facilitator of innovation by supporting innovation actors. The importance to receive continued guidance by WIPO in developing business support tools, platforms and services for businesses was emphasized.

The webinar attracted 125 participants from 14 member states and the feedback received from the participants during the Q&A sessions and post-workshop survey, confirmed their high interest and engagement. 

Based on the workshop discussions and outcomes, it is expected that this activity will lead IP Offices in the region to offer more impactful and practical services for various business sectors.