Kuala lumpur: The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has agreed to appoint an officer from the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) as an ASEAN visiting fellow at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali stated that this appointment is aimed at contributing to data-driven research on the innovation ecosystem and evaluating the impact of policies on innovative activities, thereby strengthening regional expertise in innovation economics and intellectual property.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, WIPO has also extended invitations to patent officers, patent professionals, and government agencies to enhance their patent drafting skills in alignment with international standards through the WIPO International Patent Drafting Training Programme. This includes the Inventor Assistance Programme (IAP), which provides individual inventors and small enterprises with the opportunity to obtain professional guidance on a pro bono basis throughout the patent application process.
"This initiative benefits patent professionals by enhancing their patent drafting skills and strengthening the reputation of their services, while at the same time helping to improve the quality of local patent applications and reinforce the country's innovation ecosystem," Armizan expressed in a statement.
Earlier today, MyIPO and WIPO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster cooperation in the field of intellectual property and innovation, focusing on the development of the country's patent system. The MoU was signed by MyIPO director-general Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff and WIPO director-general Daren Tang Heng Shim, with Armizan as a witness at Menara MyIPO.
Armizan highlighted that the MoU is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that Malaysia's intellectual property and innovation ecosystem continues to grow and remains globally competitive. "Through this MoU, MyIPO and WIPO will enhance cooperation and knowledge exchange, including expanding training and capacity building, strengthening the enforcement of intellectual property rights, and providing technical support and assistance," he elaborated.
Additionally, Malaysia and WIPO have agreed to explore various strategic collaborations, such as participating in the ASEAN Patent Analytics Project, which showcases the success of local innovations like the MyB Prosthetic Limb technology on a global platform. Armizan noted that Malaysia will also play an active role in the ASEAN Lab2Market Project to advance the commercialisation of university innovations, as well as the ASEAN IP Financing Project, which develops methodologies and financing instruments based on intellectual property in collaboration with financial institutions.
The minister articulated that the strategic collaboration is expected to serve as a crucial catalyst in positioning Malaysia as a proactive nation in the empowerment of intellectual property, aligning with the Malaysia MADANI aspiration to drive a sustainable, knowledge-based economy and innovation.