The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) today announced plans to enhance intellectual property (IP) capabilities in Singapore’s innovation sector, including freelance creative professionals. More resources, training programs, and advisory services will be extended to deepen IP competency across various industries.
At the annual IP Week @ SG, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Mr. Edwin Tong, revealed a new partnership between IPOS and the Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (VICPA), an NTUC-affiliated association. This collaboration aims to raise IP awareness and proficiency among creators in Singapore over the next few years.
The joint efforts will focus on promoting IP understanding among freelance creative professionals and youth, enhancing the IP value of creative works, and equipping creators to manage and monetise their IP through training on IP licensing, negotiation, and commercialisation.
A recent IPOS study highlighted the economic significance of IP rights (IPR)-intensive industries, including the creative sector, noting that one in five jobs created in Singapore between 2017 and 2021 were from IPR-intensive industries. Employees in these sectors were paid 9.2% more than those in non-IP-intensive industries.
Minister Tong emphasised, “Singapore is committed to deepening IP awareness and providing greater resources to businesses and individuals, including those in the creative sector, to better protect, manage, and monetise their IP. This aligns with our Singapore IP Strategy 2030 – to build a savvy workforce adept at capitalising on IP for growth.”
IPOS also announced the continuation of other partnerships to strengthen IP capabilities among businesses and IP professionals. This includes upskilling initiatives with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy to promote the use of IP for sustainable growth and development. Additionally, IPOS extended its partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to enhance IP capabilities in the maritime sector over the next three years.
Annual IP Awards Recognise Innovative Businesses
IP Week @ SG 2024, now in its thirteenth edition, brought together over 4,500 international delegates, global IP thought leaders, and enterprises to discuss the latest topics on innovation and IP. The event also highlighted exemplary innovation at the WIPO-IPOS IP for Innovation Awards, recognising enterprises for their outstanding use of IP in sectors such as manufacturing, robotics, semiconductors, and infant care.
Among the award winners, Nanofilm Technologies International Limited received the WIPO National Award for Enterprises (Overall Winner). As a leading provider of nanotechnology solutions, Nanofilm has significantly expanded its IP portfolio, contributing to its growth and sustainability efforts.
Smith+Nephew received the WIPO National Award for WIPO Users, awarded to an early adopter who has innovatively used WIPO’s IP services, such as PCT, Madrid and Hague. Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business focused on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue.
Other notable winners included Hegen Pte Ltd in the consumer goods sector, OTSAW Digital Pte Ltd in robotics, and Zero-Error Systems Pte Ltd in electronics, each recognised for leveraging IP to drive innovation and business transformation.
