Linking Hands and Harnessing Knowledge with WIPO — Thai SMEs & Startups Empowered on Creating Value with IP

Over 60 entrepreneurs from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Startups in Thailand participated in the IP Management Clinic (IPMC) Regional Event on Leveraging IP for Business Growth and Globalization, convened by WIPO in Bangkok on November 16-17.

This event also signified IPMC’s seeds of success in ASEAN countries by showcasing the journeys of selected companies from Indonesia and the Philippines which already benefitted from the WIPO IPMC Program, under collaboration and partnership with ASEAN and its business community. Scaled-up plans are now in place to ensure that more SMEs/Startups in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam will benefit from the program in 2024.

The above event was convened by the WIPO Singapore Office (WSO) and WIPO’s IP for Business Division (IPBD) in close collaboration with the Department of Intellectual Property of Thailand, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC). It provided a good opportunity for the participating Thai SMEs/Startups from the Food&Beverages and Information&Technology (IT) industries to increase their awareness and understanding of the benefits of incorporating an IP strategy in their respective business plans. Subsequently, a selected number of these entrepreneurs would be invited to take part in-person in a series of deep dive diagnosis and strategy sessions with seasoned IP and business experts.

Welcoming remarks at the Regional Event were delivered by Ms. Kanitha Kungsawanich, Deputy Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property of Thailand; Mr. Gil Gonzales, Executive Director of ASEAN-BAC; and Ms. Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan, Director of WSO. The Director of IPBD at WIPO, Mr. Guy Pessach, provided an overview of Intellectual Property as a key business enabler as well as of IPBD programs and services available support of SMEs/Startups. The proceedings then rolled on to the sharing of the IPMC-enabled journeys by selected companies from Indonesia (Gokomodo and CV. Centerindo Kurnia Tritama) and from the Philippines (Famous Belgian Waffles and Dr. Carl Balita Review Center/CBRC).

Those companies had participated in previous editions of the IPMC program. They shared their own experiences and insights -- including on how they learned that having a good IP management strategy is fundamental in leveraging their own business potential and competitiveness. Specific examples were given of approaches and actions taken to incorporate IP into their growth strategies and how the process have enhanced the values of their products and services as well as enable their successful entry into new domestic and external markets. The companies from Indonesia and Philippines then encouraged the Thai SMEs/Startups to adopt IP protection for research and development. This is because a comprehensive IP strategy is not just about protecting the company’s own innovations, but is also about building up the company’s own brand identity, thus generating more market opportunities.

In the second part of the program, Thai companies were provided with an orientation and overview on WIPO’s scaled-up IPMC program for SMEs/Startups in Thailand as well as the step-by-step process involved in participation in the four-month, intensive mentoring program. The WIPO expert, Mr. Dixon Soh, gave an introduction on how a well-crafted IP strategy could help maximize the potential of a business. As an illustration, a deep-dive diagnosis and strategy session were then conducted in which the participating companies were counselled on the design and development of appropriate IP strategies and on IP portfolio building/management to complement their respective business goals.

Those companies will continue to take part in the follow-on, online mentioning sessions. Then, they will be screened and identified for the next stage of the program where the selected companies will be mentored and guided by IP and business experts in a series of one-on-one clinics. This stage-two program will conclude with the companies receiving a playbook/roadmap, complete with practical business tips and recommendations, for the design and implementation of their respective IP strategies.