Additional IP resources for Singaporean enterprises announced during IP Week
31 August 2021
More IP resources for business enterprises in Singapore were announced during the recently-concluded IP Week @ SG 2021. The new IP resources seek to assist businesses in their growth trajectory and help them emerge stronger from the pandemic.
“In line with the Singapore IP Strategy 2030, which we launched earlier this April, we are introducing a suite of resources to help enterprises maximize the value of their intangible assets (IA) and IP,” said Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law and guest-of-honor during the launch of IP Week held on August 24-25, 2021.
Among the IP resources offered by IPOS are complimentary IP business and legal clinics with its network of IP law firms and business consultancy firms once a week. The good news is that beginning in September 2021, enterprises can access a larger pool of IP practitioners that they can seek advice from during a clinic session.
IPOS has also partnered with the Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law to pilot the Mentoring IP Leaders programme, an initiative to grow Singapore’s IP talent pool. Third and final year law students in the programme will be mentored by participating law firms during IPOS’s IP legal clinics.
Singaporeans may also apply for the Skills Future Study Award for IP which will offer $5,000 in training grants for up to 30 individuals to build up IP capabilities and develop industry-relevant IP skills. Launched in 2018, the number of awards this year has increased by 50 percent over the past two years.
To improve IP dispute resolution proceedings in Singapore, IPOS has also put together a list of Singapore-based IP expert witnesses who can assist in court proceedings or arbitrations relating to IP and technology disputes. The list currently consists of 16 expert witnesses who hail from various industry sectors, including engineering, healthcare, manufacturing, infocomm technology and pharmaceutical.
Another additional resource is Brand Search, the 4-in one search function on the IPOS GO mobile app. The enhanced search feature will help entrepreneurs and new business owners conduct a quick search for similar business names, trademarks, available domain names and social media usernames.
Regional IP cooperation programmes have also been enhanced to help enterprises access international markets more effectively.
Meanwhile, IPOS and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will extend the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot for five years until August 31, 2026 and will incorporate the PPH-Mottainai model. Under this model, applicants will be able to enjoy accelerated patent applications by relying on a relevant examination result established first by either IP office, regardless of whether the patent application was first filed with IPOS or with CNIPA.
The virtual ASEAN IP Academy is another new IP resource. Set up within the ASEAN IP portal hosted by Singapore, the virtual academy extends its assistance to the entire region by providing IP training and capability building activities in all ASEAN countries.
“We hope that these initiatives will provide continued growth opportunities for Singaporean enterprises and IP professionals and in turn strengthen Singapore’s position as a global IA and IP hub. This has also taken on added importance as enterprises position themselves to emerge stronger from the pandemic,” said Tong.
Espie Angelica A. de Leon
