Singapore: Promoting Intellectual Property Rights and Protection in Singapore

As Singapore transforms itself into a knowledge-based economy, the importance of innovation and creativity cannot be undermined. In this respect, Singapore has come up with many development policies, strategic investment plans and incentives to actively promote research and development and adequate intellectual property rights to protect the innovations arising therefrom.

Singapore places great emphasis on intellectual property rights, their protection and enforcement, not only because it is a form of incentive to attract foreign investment, but also because it helps to attract and retain world-class researchers and managers.

As a sound understanding of intellectual property rights and its protection is critical, the Singapore government has put in place ongoing educational programs to help the public improve their knowledge about intellectual property rights and realise the wealth in their intellectual property assets. For instance, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has recently set up IP Clinics to provide basic and general information on how to go about seeking protection for their inventions, designs, trademarks etc. Further, an Intellectual Property Education and Resource Centre (iperc) has also been set up to make information and education programmes available to both individuals and organisations.

Apart from initiatives for raising public awareness, IPOS is also organizing events such as the up-coming Europe Asia Patent Information Conference, to bring together intellectual property professionals and members of the business community to share their experiences, exchange ideas and receive updates on the latest developments in the intellectual property scene.

As Singapore gears up to become a globally recognised innovation hub, government initiatives such as those described above will go a long way to help people understand more about securing, developing and promoting their creative ideas and inventions.