9 April, 2020
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) was ranked as the world’s most innovative intellectual property (IP) office for the first time, by leading practitioner-led publication World Trademark Review (WTR). This is the fourth edition of WTR’s IP Office Innovation Ranking. IPOS topped the list of 50 of the world’s leading IP offices, for improvements in various areas, including its “refined online platform and ongoing push to help firms commercialise their trademarks and brands” said the publication1.
2. Several of IPOS’s innovative initiatives were singled out in the report, including its Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme2 (EMPS) described as “ground-breaking” and its official mobile app IPOS Go, which integrates an AI-powered trademark image search engine, particularly highlighted for having “greatly improved the efficiency of trademark filings for users”. IPOS was also praised for providing one of the most user-friendly websites and for the launch of its expertise and enterprise engagement arm – IPOS International.
3. IPOS was also recognised for its public outreach efforts through IP Week @ SG, for bringing business leaders, policy makers, IP experts and the public together to discuss IP-related issues, and to develop opportunities for innovation, transformation and commercialisation through its IP Marketplace. IP Week @ SG 2019 saw over 4,000 participants from more than 45 countries, with
more than 40% of the participants coming from the business community.
4. Mr Daren Tang (邓鸿森), Chief Executive of IPOS (新加坡知识产权局局长) said, “The accolade of being regarded as the world’s most innovative IP office by WTR and the community of IP practitioners is a recognition of the passion, professionalism and commitment of my colleagues to supporting our innovators and creators, and I am immensely privileged to be working with them.
This continues to reinforce Singapore’s position as a hub for enterprises from anywhere in the world to use their IP and intangible assets to grow into regional markets and beyond.”
5. Commenting on the overall rankings and current COVID-19 situation, Daren added that: “It is also energising to see so many other IP offices step up their efforts to serve their countries and communities. In these extraordinarily challenging times, IP offices will play an even more critical role as innovation agencies, and by inspiring one another and working together, we can better support the
flow of innovation and creativity across borders.”
The WTR IP Office Innovation Ranking
6. The ranking is an annual research project by WTR of 50 of the world’s leading IP offices in areas of innovation, as IP offices transform themselves from IP registry and regulatory work to innovation agencies. The research focuses on three core areas of
(i) value-added proposition,
(ii) online capabilities and
(iii) public outreach efforts, with the addition of the use of AI functionality at IP registries as the fourth metric this year. The research also involves technical online metrics that measure the digital capabilities of IP offices, combined with inputs from more than 100 global counsels on the services provided by IP offices.
WTR IP INNOVATION RANKING 2020
1 Singapore
2 European IP Office
= 3 South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom
6 Chile
7 Australia
= 8 Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, United States
= 12 Japan, Russia
14 France
= 15 Austria, Norway
