Singapore - 12 March 2003:
OPTIMAL 2003: Optimising Intellectual Assets, Asia's Premier Exhibition and Conference on Intellectual Property: Ideas, Inventions and Innovations held for the first time in Singapore from 12 - 14 March opened its doors today at Suntec Singapore, Hall 601. Jointly organised by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and HQ Link Pte Ltd, OPTIMAL 2003 will provide a one-stop platform for business networking among key players in the IP industry as well as facilitate information exchange to keep Singapore at the forefront of developments in intellectual asset management (IAM). The event plays host to over 100 participants from multinational companies showcasing their latest technologies to individual inventors with their unique inventions.
Commenting on the myriad of exhibitors at OPTIMAL 2003, Ms Dilys Yong Mee Hiong, Group President of HQ Link Pte Ltd said, "The role of inventions and innovations is becoming increasingly important for companies to stay competitive in this fast-paced economic environment and especially so in a knowledge-based economy." (Please refer to
Annex A (71KB) - Exhibitors at OPTIMAL 2003)
On the relevance of OPTIMAL 2003 to today's businesses, Ms Liew Woon Yin, Director General of IPOS said, "OPTIMAL 2003 is about optimising IP in business... No longer is IP just a legal concept best left to lawyers to deal with. IP is about reaping rewards for the intellectual effort behind your business - your innovative processes, your cutting edge products and services. IP is about protecting your market share and increasing your bottom line."
Drawing parallels from recommendations by the Economic Review Committee that Singapore's economy must find new impetus for growth in knowledge-based and innovation-driven products and services, Guest-of-Honour for the opening ceremony of OPTIMAL 2003 held earlier today, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State (Law and Home Affairs) said, "Innovation and IP go hand in hand. Innovative products and services give businesses competitive advantage while IP provides protection over their business space and gives them bargaining power."
To better forge the linkages and networks that will accelerate the growth of IP in the business sector, Associate Professor Ho announced three new initiatives from IPOS.
Working together with the Ministry of Manpower, IPOS developed the Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme for Intellectual Property, or SMCP (IP) for short, to provide funding support for individuals and company-supported employees interested in switching to a career in the IP industry. (Please refer to
Annex B (81KB) - SMCP (IP) Fact Sheet)
To address the need for more networks which facilitate interaction between buyers and sellers of IP, IPOS launched a new networking platform called IP Parade to serve as a marketplace for the trading of IP between IP owners and investors. Based on a simple '60 seconds to success' concept, IP owners are invited to pitch the direct benefits of their IP to a pool of ready investors.
Riding on the popularity of reality TV programmes, IPOS is creating a new reality based TV campaign series in partnership with Essence Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The campaign called 'brainWAVE - The Essence of Invention' will showcase ordinary people learning and practicing IP concept and strategies in meeting the challenges of creating new ideas, products and services.
OPTIMAL 2003 is supported by the following prestigious organisations:
International Association for the Protection on Intellectual Property (AIPPI);
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC);
International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI);
Licensing Executives Society Singapore (LES Singapore);
Singapore Confederation of Industries (SCI); and
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
Detailed information on OPTIMAL 2003 can be found online via
the OPTIMAL 2003 Official Website (Please note that the Optimal 2003 Website has been decommissioned).
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' 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 on 1 April 2001 under the Ministry of Law.
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