Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) have established a joint IP Business Center (IPBC) to provide Malaysian SMEs, startups and innovators with year-round access to business-focused intellectual property (IP) support. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged on October 7, 2026, during MyIPO's National IP Day Conference at Confex in Kuala Lumpur.
The exchange concluded a series of initiatives led by WIPO's IP for Business Division (IPBD) and MyIPO in Malacca and Kuala Lumpur from September 30 to October 7, 2026, with support from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) through the Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).
A joint IP Business Center for Malaysia
The ceremony opened with remarks by Director General Syarmila Yusoff of MyIPO and Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living of Malaysia, before the MoU was exchanged between WIPO and MyIPO.
The IPBC will serve as a hub for IP awareness, capacity building and strategic business support. It will draw on WIPO's programs, tools and methodologies, together with MyIPO's local expertise, networks and reach. The MoU marks an important milestone in the collaboration between WIPO and MyIPO, which has delivered four editions of the IP Management Clinic in Malaysia since 2024. It will help Malaysian businesses integrate IP into their growth strategies and prepare for international expansion.
Fourth Edition of the Scaled-up IP Management Clinic (IPMC) in Malacca
The IPMC brought together approximately 50 participants from sectors including fem-tech, cosmetics, education, wellness and personal care, manufacturing, fashion, and food and beverages. The program built on earlier editions held in Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur in 2024 and Penang in 2025.
Participants explored IP as a tool for managing risk, building brands and generating revenue through presentations, a panel discussion and a hands-on game exercise based on business scenarios developed for the Malacca context. Over the following two days, 16 selected SMEs received one-on-one guidance from local IP experts.
The IPMC will continue into 2027 through online or in-person mentoring for 10 selected SMEs. Participating companies will also receive individualized reports setting out practical recommendations and IP roadmaps aligned with their business objectives.
WIPO at the Malaysian National IP Day Conference
The conference attracted more than 500 registered participants and featured 26 speakers, 17 workshops and three panel discussions across three stages.
At a dedicated booth, WIPO introduced attendees to services and resources including the PCT and Madrid Systems, the Global Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program, WIPO domain name services, WIPO IP Diagnostics and the WIPO IP for Business series of guides.
WIPO also facilitated two workshops for digital startups and SMEs in the semiconductor industry. Delivered by a local expert, the workshops covered IP protection in Malaysia and practical ways in which IP can support business growth. During a public panel on IP commercialization in Malaysia, WIPO highlighted the importance of using IP to support the growth of SMEs and startups and shared examples of business-oriented initiatives.
One day IP Workshop in Kuala Lumpur
A One Day IP Workshop provided tailored consultations to nine high-potential Malaysian startups from sectors including food and beverages, education, video games and agriculture. Local IP experts helped the companies identify key intangible assets, assess protection options, address commercialization and partnership considerations, and define practical next steps.
By combining national and international perspectives in a single consultation, the workshop offered integrated, business-oriented guidance. Each company will receive an individualized report summarizing the recommendations discussed and providing a practical roadmap for implementation.
Strengthening Malaysia's innovation ecosystem
The activities confirmed strong demand for individualized, business-oriented IP mentoring among Malaysian SMEs and startups. Many participating companies were already developing brands, know-how, confidential information and international partnerships, but needed clearer strategies to protect and commercialize these assets in Malaysia and abroad.
Under the newly established IPBC, WIPO and MyIPO will continue supporting businesses and explore future IPMC editions and sector-focused initiatives.
The initiatives form part of WIPO's broader efforts to help businesses use IP strategically, strengthen innovation capabilities and compete in domestic and international markets.