Report on World IP Day Activities in Singapore

May 14, 2018

On World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, the WIPO Singapore Office organized a high-level panel discussion on Powering change: Women in innovation and Creativity for members of Singapore’s innovation and IP community.

Appropriately, the event took place at the iconic National Design Centre of Singapore, itself an organization committed to encouraging and nurturing creativity. More than 80 leading figures in Singapore’s business, IP and diplomatic communities listened to the inspiring speeches and discussion provided by the panelists.

Panelists

• Ms. Lavinia Thanapathy, President, PrimeTime Business and Professional Women's Association (Singapore’s largest women in business organization);
• Ms. Liew Woon Yin, IP Consultant, Former Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (the first DG of the IP Office of Singapore); and
• Ms. Tay Kewei, Singaporean songwriter and performer (one of Singapore’s most successful recording artists).

A report on the event was also featured in the Straits Times.

The outcome was a strong message to the audience regarding women’s potential to increase their contribution to business sectors that rely on innovation and creativity. 

Other WSO World IP Day activities

World IP Day Launch Event with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) (26/04) – At the invitation of IPOS, WSO attended the launch event that was attended by more than 200 people.  At the event IPOS launched a new initiative that provides a fast-track option for patent applications that relate to Fintech.

Business Panel on "Driving Your Business Overseas Through IP" (26/04) – the WSO delivered a presentation on the theme of World IP Day that highlighted women’s engagement in innovation.  The presentation also promoted the important role of the PCT, Madrid and Hague Systems as part of any overseas expansion effort.  The event was attended by around 100 SMEs.

Movie Screening in Partnership with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the US Embassy of Singapore (26/04) – the WSO attended a special movie screening for about 150 creative-sector students and copyright holders.  The movie followed a panel discussion with three Singaporean women film directors talking about their sources of creativity and overcoming barriers in the industry. 

World IP Day Event, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (26/04) – On the invitation of the Cambodian Department of Intellectual Property, the WSO attended and spoke at an event commemorating World IP Day.  The presentation related to this year’s theme and was well received by an audience of 200 people, including SMEs, university students, women entrepreneurs and IP lawyers. 

Press articles – The WSO Director gave an interview to ‘Le Petit Journal’ (Singapore) with the resulting article explaining the important role women have, and will continue to play in the innovation and creative industries in ASEAN. 

World IP Day 2018 Celebration (24/4) – The WSO delivered the closing remarks at an event that demonstrated the excellent cooperation between WIPO and IP attaches in the region (France, Japan, the UK and the USA).  Around 60 local SMEs and IP practitioners attended to hear inspirational stories from women entrepreneurs and business owners.  The event was jointly opened by the British High Commissioner in Singapore and the acting Ambassador of the United States.