Strengthening IP Valuation Capacity in Malaysia

November 12-14, 2024

The ASEAN region committed to develop harmonized practices in the area of IP valuation, as stated in deliverable 17.2 of the ASEAN IPR Action Plan 2016-2025: “Conduct a study on the best practices for IP valuation, including on the IP and non-IP legal and policy frameworks that help increase the recognition of the value of IP as a financial asset in the business community.” The objective of this IP valuation project is to support the deliverables of the Action Plan, and to provide complementary specialized resources in the form of a set of regionally agreed leading principles and IP valuation practices that will enable the creation of more transparent IP market relations and an environment of trust in IP transactions. To that end, the ASEAN IP Valuation Toolkit was developed, with its contents forming the basis of the national training seminars on IP valuation.

It is in the above context that the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) organized a national training seminar on IP valuation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 22-24, 2024. This training was made possible by the generous support of Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan). The three-day seminar featured a hybrid approach on the opening day, which included online participation and attracted two hundred and three participants. This was followed by on-site hosting of eighty-two professionals for the in-depth sessions on the following days. Attendees included technology transfer professionals, entrepreneurs, inventors, and valuation practitioners.

Malaysia’s high-tech vision and the role of IP valuation

In his opening address, Mr. Sheikh Arifin Sheikh Mohd. Noor, Deputy Director General (Management) of MyIPO, underscored the role of IP valuation in Malaysia’s journey towards becoming a high-tech nation:

“As Malaysia progresses towards its vision of becoming a high-tech nation by 2030, it is essential that we embrace IP as a key driver of this journey. By integrating IP valuation into our financial systems and recognizing its potential as a collateral asset, we can create a more dynamic, innovation-driven economy. This will help in attracting both local and foreign investment, building confidence among our financial institutions, and ultimately fostering a more vibrant marketplace for Malaysian innovation”.

Sharing local and international expertise in IP valuation

A team of international speakers and local speakers from Malaysia guided participants through nineteen sessions on essential IP valuation principles Ms. Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff, Deputy Director General (MyIPO) shared about the IP system in Malaysia. Mr. Michael Kos (WIPO) delivered an introduction to IP valuation. Ms. Audrey Yap (Yusarn Audrey LLC) covered qualitative and quantitative valuation techniques. Mr. André Gorius (Chair of LESI IP & Finance Task Force, Licensing Executives Society International) spoke about advanced methodologies, with a focus on real-world applications. Mr. Mohamed Ikhwan Bin Shahdzul Bakri (Invenxer Sdn. Bhd.) and Mr. Ahmad Fadzlee Bin H A Rashid (IPVOLUSI Sdn. Bhd.) presented on valuation practices in Malaysia, the valuation process, and professionalism.

Practical and hands-on approach

During the in-depth sessions, participants engaged in hands-on exercises, group discussions, and case study analyses, leveraging tools from the ASEAN IP Valuation Toolkit. This practical and hands-on approach is meant to provide participants with concrete and actionable skills.

WIPO’s commitment to regional development

This series of national training seminars on IP valuation reaffirms WIPO’s broader commitment to equipping ASEAN countries with tools and knowledge to maximize the economic value of IP.