WIPO-SIPI Workshop on WIPO IP Diagnostics

Following the signing of the MOU between WIPO, the Singapore Innovation & Productivity Institute (SIPI) and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), and celebrating 57 years of Singapore’s independence, a fruitful collaboration began to support SMF members (Singapore manufacturing companies) incorporating the IP system into their business strategies, based on WIPO IP Diagnostics.

After a successful Kickoff event held in November, the second workshop was jointly organized by the IP for Business Division (IPBD), the SIPI and the WIPO Singapore Office (WSO) at the premises of the WSO.

This event, which brought together 27 Singapore SMEs and start-ups as well as industry and IP experts, was implemented in an online and hybrid format on December 6, 2022. These SMEs and start-ups are from different industries – namely Medical & Health, Food & Beverage, Food Technology, Solution Providers, Manufacturing (additives, installation of roller screens and canopies, and furniture), Electronics and Electrical, Smart Automation & System Integration, Cosmetic & Toiletries, and Education.

The companies were invited to a guided session of using WIPO IP Diagnostics and provided IP guidance and support in an interactive manner.

Singapore experts – Audrey Yap, attorney at law and Chairperson of SIPI, Dr. Gilbert Tan, Regional IP Counsel, Yokogawa Electric Asia, and Ms. Ms. Zaheera Hashim, Director, Assistant General Counsel for Trademarks and Marketing Assets together with Ms. Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan, Director from the WIPO Singapore Office and Ms. Mathilde Tachon, Consultant from the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector were at hand to answer questions and provide support. The questions ranged from IP access for SMEs and misperceptions, searches and freedom to operate, development of branding strategies and IP portfolios, employee inventions, trade secret disclosure and software etc.

This was the second of such activities under the MOU and amongst different efforts that are being piloted around WIPO IP Diagnostics to provide support to SMEs and SME intermediaries in using the IP system for business competitiveness.