The IP for Business Division, WIPO, in collaboration with the IP Office of Viet Nam, the WIPO Singapore Office (WSO), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the ASEAN Secretariat, and WeLead Viet Nam, successfully launched the IP Management Clinic (IPMC) Program in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam on October 21, 2025. This program is carried out with the invaluable assistance from the Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global, the Japan Patent Office.
Following the successful edition of the IPMC program in Hanoi, Vietnam last year, the second edition was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City with on-line participation of SMEs from Da Nang.
A total of 80 participants including 62 startups and SMEs, as well as representatives from IP Law firms and from academia) attended the kick-off event on October 21, 2025. The participating companies represented a range of technology-related industries including education technology, biotechnology, food technology, agriculture technology, information technology, healthcare technology as well as the pharmaceuticals industries.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang, Deputy Director General, IP Viet Nam; Ms. Eri OGAWA, Consul, Consulate-General of Japan in Ho Chi Min City, Ms. Silvija Trpkovska, Counsellor, IPBD, WIPO, Ms. Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan, Director, WSO and Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Co-founder and President of WeLead, Viet Nam.
The event continued with several engaging presentations and insightful discussions on how businesses can establish a competitive advantage, increase brand recognition, attract investors and generate new revenue streams by protecting, leveraging and monetizing their IP assets. Speakers being Ms. Dr. Hua Thuy Trang, Director of Enterprises, Cooperation Division, BK Holdings, Ms. Silvija Trpkovska, Counsellor, IPBD, WIPO, Ms. Karen Abraham, Partner, Head of the Intellectual Property Practice, Technology Media and Telecommunications, Shearn Delamore & Co, Ms. Hoang Van Anh, Local Trademark Expert, Ms. Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan, Director, WSO and Ms. Romane Planes, Consultant, IPBD, WIPO.
In the following four days, the 15 selected enterprises, ten (10) from Ho Chi Minh City and five (5) from Da Nang participated in one-on-one mentoring sessions with the IP and business experts that addressed the challenges faced by the enterprises in understanding and protecting IP and intangible assets Commonly addressed challenges included the struggle to differentiate between various types of IP, such as trademarks, patents, and trade secrets; expand their businesses overseas but lacking clarity on how to approach the topics of IP protection, IP management, and IP strategy.
Consultations with the IP experts will be continued through online advisory sessions in the upcoming months to provide further guidance to participants on potential IP to be created following their business goals. The feedback collected from the participants showed that the program helped them to better understand the different types of IP, and various approaches of IP commercialization in the context of their businesses as well as that the strategic use of IP and IA is vital for maintaining a competitive edge and driving business growth.