Intellectual Property Initiatives Launched in Singapore
Singapore Firms to Receive Support for Patents, Trademarks and Brands
Singapore moves one step closer to becoming a trusted global intellectual property (IP) hub with the launch of new intellectual property initiatives.
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) announced a series of new initiatives to support the ASEAN Industry 4.0 development. This means businesses will now receive more support to commercialise brands, patents and trademarks.
Among these is IPOS International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IPOS. The subsidiary was set up to provide businesses with new tools and solutions to manage their intangible assets and IP for further global expansion. More than 100 experts will be brought on board in an advisory capacity to assist businesses. Guidance will cover areas including patent search and analysis, IP education, training, strategy and management. Additionally, IPOS also signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) together with partnership agreements involving various stakeholders.
IPOS International will also collaborate with eight other IP offices within the ASEAN region to launch a new initiative set to expedite Industry 4.0 patent applications. The participating markets are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. This collaborative effort aims to boost the flow of innovation into the region, with priority on “key emerging technologies”. Such technologies include robotics patent applications, Fintech and cybersecurity. All participating ASEAN IP offices have agreed to broaden the scope of the ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation or ASPEC to include Patent Cooperation Treaty reports (PCT). ASPEC aims to minimise waiting time and the costs involved in obtaining a patent.
