27 September, 2018
Recently, at the presence of China’s Vice Premier Han Zheng and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, IPOS’ enterprise engagement arm – IP ValueLab – signed a MOU with the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Administrative Committee (KCAC) and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co. Ltd (GKC Co) to set up the “International Intellectual Property Innovation Service Centre” in the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC).
The MOU will link the innovation ecosystems of both countries more closely to support the translation of ideas and IP into products and services for the region, and provide a platform to connect IP expertise within the government and private sectors from both countries, tapping on Singapore’s experience in building IP skills to set up an IP college in Guangzhou. The Centre will also enable China’s enterprises to gain access to ASEAN and other key overseas markets through Singapore by taking advantage of established platforms for expedited IP application processes into the region.
Innovative enterprises in Singapore and the People’s Republic of China will soon have better access to a wealth of market opportunities in China and the high growth markets of ASEAN through Singapore. Earlier today, IP ValueLab (IPVL) – the enterprise engagement arm of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) – signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Administrative Committee (KCAC) and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co. Ltd (GKC Co) to set up the “International Intellectual Property Innovation Service Centre” in the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC).
2. Singapore and China have a shared interest in using IP and innovation to drive economic growth. The MOU will link the innovation ecosystems of both countries more closely to support the translation of ideas and IP into products and services for the region and globally.
3. In particular, the Centre will provide a platform to connect IP expertise within the government and private sectors from both countries, and tap on Singapore’s experience in building IP skills to set up an IP college in Guangzhou.
4. The Centre will also enable China’s enterprises to gain access to ASEAN and other key overseas markets through Singapore, which continues to be ranked top in Asia by the Global Innovation Index. Chinese innovators can take advantage of established platforms1,2 for expedited IP application processes into the region, and connect with more than 70 markets through Singapore’s network of IP and other agreements. In addition, IPOS is one of only two countries in the world that can transact and conduct patent searches in English and Chinese, which will add to Singapore’s attractiveness to Chinese enterprises seeking access to the region’s markets.
1 Singapore championed ASPEC, the first regional patent work‐sharing programme arrangement which expedited patent applications and streamlined the process for patent application in nine participating ASEAN IP offices.
2 Singapore is the first ASEAN country that is an appointed international search authority (ISA) under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and has the authority to take on international patent work.
