| WIPO Asia-Pacific Newsletter | May 5, 2022 |  | | | | | | Frontier Technologies for a Better Future |  | | New technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D printing and Web3 open a whole universe of possibilities. Combined creatively, those technologies have the power to improve many areas of life, including agriculture, biomedicine, and climate change mitigation, for a better world. This edition of our newsletter features innovators who were bold enough to push frontiers. Discover their stories from India, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines and how intellectual property was key to their success.
The World Intellectual Property Day, on 26 April, focused on youth, was celebrated in many Asia-Pacific countries. Find out who were the winners of the youth video and photo contests, and learn about the six-month program of technical assistance for youth in the Asia-Pacific region. Happy reading! | | | | Intrinsic Advantages and R&D Key to Success |  | Heminda Jayaweera is a Sri Lankan serial entrepreneur focusing on Internet of Things, biomedical and green tech. He was at the helm of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology for two years and changed the way the institute translates its research into marketable and profitable products. Heminda shares some advice for SMEs and young entrepreneurs, talks about how to take products to the market, and the importance of R&D. Read the full interview | | | | Growing Importance of Internet of Things |  | Shuo Wang is Vice-President of Bryea Technology, a leading industrial Internet and big data solution provider in China, one of the earliest domestic technology enterprises to apply the Internet of Things (IoT) to industrial processes. Shuo talks about edge computing, bringing the information processing close to where the data is collected and used, and the growing importance of IoT and data-driven processes in the professional and personal spheres. Read the full interview | | | | FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES – SPECIAL EDITION
| | | | AI-Assisted 3D Titanium Replacement Bones |  | Meticuly, after “meticulously”, is one of the very few personalized 3D printed implants companies in the world. The Thai company provides 3D titanium bone replacements that are exact fits for patients through an artificial intelligence-assisted program, within seven days. Meticuly provides hand bone, cranial and facial replacements, and is working on spinal and hips replacements. Read the full story and Watch the video | | | Automatizing Microscopy in Labs, Saving Lives SigTuple is an Indian biomedical startup combining robotics, artificial intelligence and cloud computing to transform Lab microscopy work. Its AI100 system is a smart cloud-based blood and urine screening solution operating from a robotic microscope, able to deliver results online to doctors within minutes, saving precious time, and allowing patients to receive early diagnosis and treatment. Read the full story and Watch the video Listening to Buildings and Bridges’ Heartbeat The system developed by USHER allows the monitoring of any structure, and can determine if a building is safe, in particular after an earthquake. The Filipino company is looking to become a multi-hazard, disaster risk-reduction platform and working on applications monitoring tall buildings against strong winds, and on the prevention of disasters caused by landslides and tsunamis. Read the full story AI-Powered Blood Diagnostic Test Against CVDs Jendo Innovations is a Sri-Lankan bio-medical startup delivering a groundbreaking-patented healthcare solution to detect abnormalities in the cardiovascular system. Jendo Innovations’ AI-powered system helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, which are silent killers, often going unnoticed for 20 to 30 years, saving lives. Read the full story Multilingual Intelligent Voice and Chat Bots Senti AI is specialized in natural language processing and provides companies with AI-powered chat and voice assistants that can understand English, Tagalog, and Taglish (a mix of English and Tagalog). The Filipino company also advises clients on AI-specific technology that can be used in their business. Read the full story Don’t Miss out on Your News! Join our growing LinkedIn Group “ Asia-Pacific WIPO Community – IP from the Ground Up". Learn about the latest IP developments in the Asia Pacific region, innovations, and events. Hear about new WIPO initiatives and services. Share your news with the Group, exchange ideas, and expand your network. | NEWS FROM ACROSS WIPO | | | | Youth Photo and Video Winners, Region Honored |  | - The three finalists of the WIPO Photography Prize for Indigenous Peoples and Local Community Youth 2021-2022 were announced on 22 April. The 2nd Prize went to Prince Loyd Besorio, 22, a young Subanen leader from the Philippines. He is a journalist, volunteer, photojournalist and content creator passionate about the ocean. He won a photography equipment of his choice with a value of up to 2,500 U.S. Dollars. The 3rd Prize went to Verine Ogutu, 24, a young woman from the Luo community in Kenya and the 1st Prize was awarded to Joanderson Gomes de Almeida, 30, an indigenous Pankararu from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Check the webinar series “How to Protect and Promote Your Culture” addressed to indigenous peoples and local communities, and learn how IP tools can be used in the protection and promotion of their traditional knowledge. Recorded past webinars look into copyright, patents, collective marks, and geographical indications.
- The winners of the first World IP Day Youth Video Competition were announced on April 26, Li Binglu and Cai Qinge from China won the 3rd Prize, John Wobil from Ghana won the 2nd Prize, and the 1st Prize went to Hekma Jabouli of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Asia-Pacific region was well represented among the 10 finalists, with Andra Fembriarto and Muhammad Iqbal from Indonesia, and David Agustin from the Philippines.
| | | | Fostering Research Against Covid-19, Trade Secrets |  | - On 11 April, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization and WIPO launched a Trilateral COVID-19 Technical Assistance Platform providing member states with a “one-stop shop” access to the expertise and resources of all three Organizations.
- To support countries in their response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and drive future pandemic preparedness, WIPO Member States approved a package of support measures as part of WIPO’s Program of Work and Budget 2022/23. Member States can request technical assistance by contacting WIPO’s COVID-19 Focal Point. More information about the COVID-19 response package can be found here.
- WIPO recently published a Patent Landscape Report on COVID-19 related vaccines and therapeutics providing early observations on the patenting activity in the field of COVID-19, and comparing results with clinical trial data for related candidate vaccines and drugs.
- The WIPO Virtual Exhibition “IP for a Healthier World,” marking 10 years of WIPO Re:Search is still open until 30 June.
- Build your IP knowledge and skills and register for the general and advanced distance learning courses of the WIPO Academy. Don’t forget to register for the WIPO-Korea Summer School on IP. Applications close on May 15, 2022!
- Don't miss the WIPO Symposium on Trade Secrets and Innovation on 23-24 May! Learn about trade secrets and digital data, how trade secrets fare in the value chain, and how to manage trade secrets and protect them. Register before 16 May by filling out the Expression of Interest form and sending it to our colleagues.
- The 42th session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) will be held from 9-13 May. The session is the first in-person SCCR session since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadcast will be live and sessions will be recorded.
| | | | NEWS AND FEATURES FROM THE REGION | | | | World IP Day Celebrations a Plenty |  | World IP Day was celebrated throughout the Asia-Pacific region with original initiatives raising IP awareness and celebrating youth, creativity and inventiveness. Here are a few examples: - Bhutan celebrated the day with musical performances by young rising Bhutanese artists to raise IP awareness and the Department of Intellectual Property awarded certificates and cash prizes to the three finalists of the annual National Trademark Competition.
- Singapore’s celebrations began with outreach events involving social influencers and culminated in a refreshing panel discussion featuring young content creators, the founder of a payment platform and an IP expert. They shared practical insights on IP in their creative and innovation journeys.
- The Iran Intellectual Property Center (IPC) is organizing a young inventors’ awards contest and is calling inventors, from 15-24, who have successfully registered their patents in the period 2019-2021 to submit their application before 25 May. Selected inventions will be displayed in the context of WIPD. The President of IPC, Seyed Mohammad Ali Mirtaheri also symbolically rang a school bell in Tehran to celebrate IP for the first time.
- Papua New Guinea announced the imminent launch of a podcast series and a YouTube Channel, and broadcast its first interview on WIPD.
- IPOPHL launched its Learning Activities Workspace, an IP distance learning system to promote IP awareness, on 27 April. It is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
- The Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) released a video clip “Keep Thinking” to encourage the youths, the new generation, and everyone “to keep pursuing their dreams and do their best to turn their ideas into reality in trusting that every idea can bring changes to the world.”
| | | Share your news! If you want to share stories about inspiring entrepreneurs, or news from your country, please contact us. We are always on the look out for your news and happy to highlight them! | ACTIVITIES OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION | | | | World IP Day, Technical Assistance for Youth |  | - On 25 April, the WIPO Division of the Asia and the Pacific organized a regional conference in collaboration with the ASEAN on the theme of World IP Day 2022 “Youth: Innovating for a better future.” The conference acted as a kick-off for a six-month program of technical assistance, and gathered 203 participants. Find the program and the recording on the meeting page. The Head of the IP Office of the Philippines delivered an inspiring message.
Two national conferences immediately followed: On World IP Day, 26 April, an event was organized by WIPO in collaboration with the Cambodian Department of Intellectual Property, and on 27 April, a national webinar was co-organized by WIPO and the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia. - The Entrepreneurs Online Network (EON), the online SME network in the Asia-Pacific and Central European and Baltic States regions is preparing the launch of two series of webinars: one on agrofood, and the other one on online gaming. The series of six webinars on agrofood will take place in June. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting initiative!
- Following the WIPO’s Regional Conference on International Women’s Day, a new initiative to encourage entrepreneurship among women in the Asia-Pacific region will begin soon. The webinar series and expert clinic sessions will run from May to September. For registrations and program details, please Garima Sahdev.
| | | | DATA DASHBOARD | | | | Internet of Things Growth Market for the Region |  | | | | | |
