WIPO, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), Ministry of Law of Indonesia, organized a regional dialogue for the Heads of IP Offices from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, Indonesia, on April 5, 2026, with the support of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) through the Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global.
The dialogue, held in a retreat format, was the first of its kind for ASEAN IP leaders. It brought together heads of IP offices and senior management from across ASEAN for a dedicated leadership-level exchange.
ASEAN IP offices meet three times a year under a structured and formal agenda, with heads of office typically participating alongside senior and junior officers to discuss operational matters. This dialogue offered a different setting. For the first time, heads of office engaged in a focused conversation on possible future scenarios for their institutions. Drawing on the WIPO Catalyst report adapted to the regional context, as well as data on regional IP filing trends and global innovation performance, the dialogue encouraged participants to think beyond current assumptions and explore plausible alternative futures for IP offices in the region.
Shaping the future of IP Offices in ASEAN
The Regional Dialogue opened with remarks by Mr. Suon Vichea, Chair of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and Director of the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia; Mr. Hermansyah Siregar, Director General of the Directorate General of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Law of Indonesia; Mr. Andrew Michael Ong, Director, Division for Asia and the Pacific, WIPO; Dr. Thang Luong, Head of the Competition, Consumer Protection and IPR Division of the ASEAN Secretariat; and Mr. Kenji Kainuma, Director, Regional Cooperation Office, Japan Patent Office.
Several key themes emerged from the dialogue:
The Region Needs to Look at the Future. Participants acknowledged that ASEAN IP discussions often remain focused on immediate priorities. The scenario-planning exercise helped shift that perspective. While many found the change in approach unfamiliar at first, they ultimately saw value in stepping back and thinking more strategically about possible futures for IP offices in the region.
Several participants proposed establishing a regional foresight network or unit within AWGIPC. Its purpose would be to build sustained attention and long-term capacity for forward-looking analysis and strategic planning on intellectual property, innovation and the future development of IP offices across the region.
Data was an Eye-Opener. The presentation and discussion of detailed regional IP filing and innovation performance data, including peer-to-peer country comparisons, were widely seen as highly insightful. Participants recognized the need to invest more in data infrastructure and human capacity, including digital systems for better data collection, stronger analytical capabilities, and dedicated resources for evidence-based planning. This also aligned with the view that future-ready IP offices should have dedicated data units or officers.
IP Offices cannot Operate in a Vacuum. Participants recognized that IP offices function within a broader innovation ecosystem. Moving the needle on national outcomes requires partnerships and collaboration with other government agencies. In fact, it calls for a whole-of-government approach. Offices highlighted the urgency of working more closely with innovation support agencies, national statistics offices and other public institutions. At the same time, IP data needs to be better connected to broader innovation and economic data.
South-South Cooperation is Much Needed. The data also revealed significant disparities across the region. Some countries continue to face substantial gaps in IP filing activity and innovation performance, including in indicators related to the Global Innovation Index. Participants called for a practical mechanism to strengthen South-South cooperation. Stronger offices expressed clear interest in actively supporting those with more acute needs, reflecting the region’s spirit of solidarity and institutional resilience.
The dialogue helped establish a shared foundation for continued cooperation among ASEAN IP offices as they navigate a changing innovation and policy landscape. By encouraging longer-term thinking, stronger use of data and closer inter-agency collaboration, the exchange contributed to a more future-oriented regional conversation. WIPO will continue to support ASEAN Member States in this process.