IP Week @ SG returns for second annual run

More than 1,000 industry leaders expected.

IP Week @ SG is a week-long series of intellectual property (IP) activities dedicated to the sharing of insights and best practices, IP management and commercialisation for Singapore companies as they grow in our knowledge based economy.

Organised by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) from 26-30 August 2013 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, more than 1,000 local and international industry leaders from 35 countries are expected to participate in this week-long IP event that advances the nation’s aspiration to establish itself as an IP hub of Asia.

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister for Home Affairs and Chairman, National Research Foundation, Mr Teo Chee Hean, was the Guest-of-Honour at the anchor event of IP Week @ SG 2013, the 4th Global Forum on Intellectual Property (GFIP). At the forum, DPM Teo said, “IP is an important enabler, driving innovation and economic growth around the world. We need to raise awareness about IP, encourage companies to create, protect and use their IP well to develop goods and services that will serve the regional and global market. Singapore is ready to play a facilitative role as an IP hub, and serve as a springboard for companies looking at expanding their presence in the region.”

Aligned with an increased focus on IP, GFIP had expanded to also include the Business and Technology communities that focus on using IP as their growth strategy. Besides invaluable networking opportunities, participants also benefited from the exchange of experiences and expertise from top names in the IP industry such as Dr Francis Gurry, Director-General of WIPO, Ms Teresa Stanek Rea, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Ms Toe Su Aung, President of the International Trademark Association.

Mr Marshall Phelps, Board Member of Intellectual Property Exchange International (IPXI) and a leading figure in IP management, said, “In today’s rapidly globalised world, the ownership and protection of IP must extend beyond the legal industry. Senior management needs to realise that IP plays a pivotal role in many industries and sectors, including R&D and technological advancement.”

As part of IP Week @ SG 2013, IPOS will also be organising other IP-themed conferences with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and the European Patent Office (EPO). The inaugural France-Singapore Patent Symposium will delve into the evolution of IP Valuation and IP Financing, while the IPOS-EPO Patent Conference will focus on the controversy surrounding software patents. Other events that will be held over the week include Singapore’s first IP Expo and IP-centric career forum, and a gala dinner featuring the inaugural prestigious World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) – IPOS Innovation Award. Top corporate organisations that had leveraged international IP systems to better manage their IP for business growth will be recognised during the latter event which will be held this evening. [Details on the award and winners will be released this evening.]

During the week, Singapore will also seek to forge cooperative agreements with a number of local and international organisations with the aim of strengthening the suite of IP services to service growth in the region. One such collaboration agreement which was signed at the side-lines of GFIP was an International Cooperation Agreement between IPOS’ IP Academy (IPA) and the Université de Strasbourg’s Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI). Under the agreement, both organisations will work together on IP training and research initiatives, as well as sharing of information in the field of research and education. The intent of the collaboration is to professionalise the IP eco-system to advance the knowledge and use of IP.

Mr Tan Yih San, Chief Executive of IPOS, said, “The global innovation landscape is changing. Singapore is committed to ensuring a nimble and robust IP regime that will serve the growing needs of our IP community in the Singapore and the region. IP Week @ SG is a constructive platform to forge greater collaborations with our key local and international stakeholders. We are honoured to have the support of a slate of dedicated and renowned of business and IP thought leaders in organising such world-class IP events, and will continue to do so as IP is no longer an option but a necessity in our global knowledge based economy.”