More IP resources for enterprises to emerge stronger from the pandemic

1      More IP resources were announced today for enterprises to grow their businesses and emerge stronger from the pandemic. This was announced by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong at the launch of the annual Intellectual Property Week (IP Week @ SG 2021).

2     Said Mr Tong: “In line with the Singapore IP Strategy (SIPS) 2030, which we launched earlier this April, we are introducing a suite of resources to help enterprises maximise the value of their intangible assets (IA) and intellectual property (IP). 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.”

3     IPOS currently runs complimentary IP business and legal clinics with its network of IP law firms and business consultancy firms once a week. From September 2021, enterprises can access a larger pool of IP practitioners that they can seek advice from during a clinic session.

4      IPOS has also partnered the Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law (SMUYPHSL) to pilot the Mentoring IP Leaders programme (IP MILE), 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’ IP legal clinics.

5     Singaporeans may apply for the SkillsFuture Study Award for IP (SFSA-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.

6     To improve IP dispute resolution proceedings in Singapore, IPOS has 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.

7     Brand Search, the 4-in one search function on the IPOS GO mobile app has been launched. The enhanced search feature will help entrepreneurs and new business owners conduct a quick search for similar business names, trade marks, available domain names, and social media usernames before deciding on a suitable name for their brand.

8     Regional IP cooperation programmes have been enhanced to help enterprises access international markets more effectively.

9     IPOS and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will extend the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot for five years till 31 August 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 increased flexibility of using examination results from either office can speed up patent applications.

10     A virtual ASEAN IP Academy has also been set up within the ASEAN IP portal hosted by Singapore. This virtual academy will provide IP training and capability building activities in all ASEAN countries to enhance IP expertise in the region. Businesses in the ASEAN region can look forward to accessing a range of IP training programmes and expertise.

11      In recognition of outstanding innovations and IP management strategies by Singapore enterprises that have advanced the growth of their companies, five companies were awarded the “WIPO-IPOS IP For Innovation Awards”.

12      INEX Innovate was awarded the IPOS IP For Innovation Champions as well as the WIPO IP Enterprise Trophy (as the overall winner). INEX Innovate is a leading Singaporean molecular diagnostics company specialising in women’s and fetal health. Its technologies help to detect fetal genetic abnormalities and oncological conditions such as ovarian and breast cancers. They are recognised for their ground breaking innovations in the women’s healthcare industry which address unmet clinical needs and push the boundaries in women’s and fetal health.

13      Another outstanding recipient is the Critical Facility Group Pte Ltd (CFG). CFG is the leading provider of lightning protection technologies for industrial and commercial enterprises across Asia. It specialises in mitigating the ill-effects of electrical weather anomalies and offers comprehensive solutions. CFG is a trailblazer in innovation for lightning protection solutions that contribute to sustainability and environmental protection. CFG is a prime example of how a Singaporean company, established two decades ago, continues to grow and transform through building value from their intangible assets. More information on the award recipients can be found in Annex A.

14      In its 10th edition, IP Week @ SG 2021 (https://www.ipweek.sg), organised in a hybrid format for the first time by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), welcomed international stakeholders, with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) Director General, heads of global IP offices and leading industry players sharing insights on how IP can accelerate national economic strategies and support businesses in their growth, and innovation journeys to emerge stronger from the pandemic.

Annexes

Annex A: WIPO-IPOS IP For Innovation Award Winners

For media queries, please contact:

Jenny Kwok
+65 8333 7231
jenny_kwok@ipos.gov.sg

Alvin Hang
+65 8181 3456
alvin_hang@ipos.gov.sg