ASEAN should view IP as a strategic economic asset, says Malaysia chairman
09 November 2025
ASEAN must transition from viewing intellectual property as mere protection to treating it as a ”strategic economic asset,” said Riduan Rubin, chairman of the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), at the 77th ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation.
He stressed that fostering awareness and developing procedures to support micro, small and medium enterprises is essential. Rubin called for a more coherent and transparent regional framework to help local innovators and small businesses seamlessly protect their IP across ASEAN.
A key part of this strategy, he noted, involves strengthening IP commercialization, valuation and integration with the region’s sustainability agenda to promote green innovation.
“ASEAN is rich in creativity, but our monetization mechanisms remain fragmented,” Rubin stated, identifying a need for stronger valuation standards, innovation financing and policies that connect IP creators to capital markets.
He emphasized that this new approach would generate economic value, attract investment and enhance regional competitiveness. Rubin pointed to MyIPO’s own efforts in developing IP valuation frameworks and collaborating with financial institutions.
He also shared strong Malaysian IP filing data from 2019 to 2025 – including 342,093 trademarks and 50,629 patents – as proof of growing innovation, with Penang's semiconductor sector being a particular powerhouse.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
