WIPO has concluded its first IP Finance Pilot Project with Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF), at a closing event on November 2, 2026. The initiative resulted in MIDF’s first two IP-backed financing facilities, totalling RM10 million. These facilities used IP alongside conventional collateral to support businesses in food production and fashion and accessories.
Launched in September 2025, the pilot tested an end-to-end framework for incorporating IP into financing decisions, covering IP assessment, valuation, financing approval and post-disbursement monitoring. It demonstrated that IP-inclusive lending can be implemented within MIDF’s existing credit processes, supported by sound governance and cross-sector collaboration.
Read the WIPO-MIDF IP Finance Pilot Project Closure Report to learn more about the pilot’s implementation and key outcomes.
We have tested how intangible assets can be identified, assessed and valued; how ownership and legal rights are considered; and how IP can be incorporated into credit assessment, security structures and monitoring. In doing so, we have built practical experience, strengthened institutional capacity and created a framework that can now be refined and scaled.
Andrew Staines, Assistant Director General, WIPO
The recognition of IP as collateral marks a significant milestone in Malaysia’s financing landscape, creating new opportunities for businesses to unlock the value of their intangible assets and access the funding required to accelerate growth, innovation and expansion.
Azizi Mustafa, CEO of MIDF
Addressing practical challenges
The pilot allowed partners to address the practical challenges of IP-backed financing through real transactions. They worked together to navigate issues relating to governance, legal frameworks, IP valuation, ownership verification and the monitoring of intangible assets. The project also highlighted the importance of market readiness, as participating companies demonstrated varying levels of preparedness in IP management and commercialization.
Key lessons from the pilot
Independent IP assessment and valuation strengthened confidence in financing decisions, while practical implementation and continuous monitoring helped build institutional capability and manage IP assets throughout the financing lifecycle. The pilot also highlighted opportunities to strengthen IP-backed financing through enhanced legal frameworks, professional expertise, good valuation practices and continued public-private collaboration.
Looking ahead
The WIPO-MIDF IP Finance Pilot Project provides a practical model for countries seeking to integrate IP into financing decisions. MIDF remains committed to supporting the evolving needs of Malaysian businesses and strengthening the country’s innovation financing ecosystem. Drawing on the lessons from the pilot, WIPO will continue working with Member States and partners to advance IP-backed financing through capacity building, international cooperation and knowledge-sharing.