IP and Bio-Resources - Balancing Economics and Ethics

Singapore, December 01, 2003 –The Intellectual Property (IP) and Biological Resources Conference was opened this morning at the Pan Pacific Singapore by Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee. The first of its kind held in Singapore, the conference is jointly organised by the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) of the National University of Singapore, the Intellectual Property Academy, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs remarked that, "The balance between IP and environmental conservation of biological resources has for a long time been an area of concern that has attracted great interest worldwide. This conference presents an opportunity for experts to deliberate on how best to strike that balance. As part of the international community, Singapore is proud to be able to contribute in our own small way towards a better understanding of the issues involved."
In Singapore, considerable attention and focus has also been drawn to the subject as a result of rapid growth in the biomedical and biotechnology sector. Underlying this industry however are broader concerns and issues beyond the fundamental IP issues of patenting and rights over plants and animals. One key concern is the protection of the traditional knowledge and the rights of the traditional knowledge holders with the patenting of inventions based on traditional knowledge or resources.

Aiming to plug the gaps and address the emerging challenges in this complex area, a total of 14 distinguished international practitioners, academics, policy decision-makers and IP professionals, have been invited to the Conference to share their valuable views on topics such as the importance of patent rights to the growth of the bio-pharmaceutical and agro-technological industries and the ownership of IP in modified living things and other bio-inventions. (Please refer to Annex (21KB) for write-ups on the conference speakers and panellists.) The speakers and participants to the conference come from a range of countries including Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, UK, US, and Zimbabwe.

Professor Tommy Koh will also chair a Roundtable discussion on the final day of the Conference where the floor will open for a discussion and debate between speakers, panellists and audience on the issues raised in the preceding two days.
The Conference, which will be held from 1 - 3 December 2003, is also organised in partnership with international partners including IUCN (World Conservation Union) Academy of Environmental Law, IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, The Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA), The Macquarie University Centre for Environmental Law, United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU/IAS), and the World Intellectual Property Organisation

For media enquiry, please contact:

Ms Jennifer Chen
Assistant Director
Media & Marketing Communications
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
DID: 6331 6548
Fax: 6331 6562
Email: Jennifer_Chen@ipos.gov.sg

About IPOS
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore or IPOS (http://www.ipos.gov.sg) is the lead government agency that formulates and regulates intellectual property (IP) laws, promotes IP awareness and provides the infrastructure to facilitate the greater development of IP in Singapore. With IP fast becoming a critical resource in today’s new economy, IPOS’s vision is to foster a creative Singapore where ideas and intellectual efforts are valued, developed and exploited. Formerly known as the Registry of Trade Marks and Patents, IPOS was established as a statutory board of the Ministry of Law on 1 April 2001.