Singapore – WIPO through its IP for Business Division, IP Innovation Ecosystems Sector, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) organized a Regional Dialogue on IP and SMEs for Asia and the Pacific on August 25-26, 2025 with support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global), bringing together high-level representatives from 17 IP offices across the region to address the growing gap between small and medium enterprises' current IP utilization and their full potential.
The two-day strategic initiative, organized in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), attracted 40 delegates, including ministerial-level representatives, Heads of IP offices, and Deputy Directors from across the region.
The dialogue combined a closed consultation meeting focused on three strategic themes—IP management and commercialization, ecosystem partnerships, and capacity building—with a public business panel during IP Week Singapore featuring WIPO Director General Daren Tang and award-winning SMEs demonstrating practical IP success stories.
"Strategic partnerships will be fundamental to scaling up this work and reaching the millions of entrepreneurs and innovators who drive regional economic growth", said Director General Tang, highlighting WIPO's evolution toward comprehensive, partnership-driven ecosystems.
The consultation achieved a 94% response rate from participating offices, providing robust baseline data for developing targeted regional solutions. Key outcomes included concrete commitments for empirical studies, IP Management Clinics, and exploration of joint IP Business Centers.
The dialogue advances WIPO's strategic focus on making IP accessible to grassroots innovators and SMEs while contributing to sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. A comprehensive report with findings and recommendations will be prepared to inform enhanced regional support programs.