To boost the Maldives’ IP ecosystem, WIPO’s IP For Business Division, teamed up with the Division for Asia-Pacific (DAP), and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) from the Maldives to launch a successful IP Management Clinic (IPMC) at the Maldives Expo 2025. The event took place from May 27 to 30 in Hulhumale.
This IPMC’s goal was to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the tools they need to identify and protect their IP assets.
Strengthening IP in a landscape that’s just starting to take shape
Maldives’ IP framework is in early stages of development. The country currently operates under a single piece of legislation—its copyright law, passed in 2011 and updated in 2024. Other important legal protections, like those for trademarks, patents, and designs, are still in progress. MEDT is actively working on complementary laws right now, including a trademark law expected by 2026. There are also plans for more legislation for patents and industrial designs. The development of the IP ecosystem is part of a broader strategy to support the creative industry and to diversify the Maldivian economy.
From classroom to clinic: Training and personalized mentorship
The four-day program kicked off with a hybrid plenary training session on May 26, with 37 SME representatives in attendance. The participating SMEs were of various sizes, and with different lines of business, from food and beverages, through handicrafts and creative applications in the field of souvenirs and fashion, to software design and education. This diversity of business lines significantly enriched the conversation and demonstrated the Maldivian entrepreneurial ecosystem’s interest in IP regardless of size and field. The experts Chamindi Ekanayake (Sri Lanka) and Diva Arora (India) led the session and gave the basics of how to identify and use IP assets to grow businesses and manage risk.
In this first training session, interactive learning played a central role with a simulation game in which participants navigated IP strategy decisions under budget constraints. This helped show how IP protection and business planning work in the real-world.
One-on-one mentorship for 22 SMEs
From May 27 to 30, 22 selected SMEs received personalized diagnostic sessions to figure out their most valuable intangible assets and come up with IP strategies that fit their business models. Using the Business Model Canvas as a guide, the sessions explored how SMEs could align their IP practices with growth goals, mitigate legal risks, and prepare for the upcoming legal changes in the Maldivian IP system. Several participants shared experiences of IP violations, such as copying of their designs, and expressed concern about the lack of legal and legislative certainty about IP in their country.
The initiative came at a crucial time for many participants who were on the verge of expanding internationally. The mentors’ regional expertise and familiarity with South Asian markets provided these entrepreneurs with practical, market-relevant insights.
A step forward for innovation and economic growth
WIPO staff worked closely with local stakeholders to introduce the IP Diagnostic Tool. This tool helps SMEs generate custom IP reports that align with their strategic goals. This hands-on approach made sure that everyone left the clinic not only informed but also empowered to take proactive steps in protecting and leveraging their IP.
As the Maldives becomes more involved in the international IP community, initiatives like this IPMC are going to be key in creating a resilient economy that is driven by innovation.