The UAE Ministry of Economy has announced the launch of its new intellectual property (IP) system. This includes 11 integrated initiatives in various fields and applications of intellectual property, which are aimed at enhancing the innovation and creativity landscape in the country.
One of the initiatives, Innovation Hub, offers an online incubator platform for UAE creators to provide technical guidance and assistance with patent registration process. The initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Emirates Association for Talented.
Meanwhile, the Patent Hive initiative aims to increase the number of patents granted and promote the participation of innovators and talents in filing patent applications in the UAE.
It has the goal of achieving 6,000 new patent registrations by 2026, in collaboration with relevant research and academic institutions.
Elsewhere, the MoEc, in partnership with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), has undertaken the Emirati ‘Fahes’ (examiner) initiative to enhance the skills and competitiveness of Emirati talents in the field of intellectual property.
InnovLAB initiative is a partnership with the Minister of State for Government Development and the Future and focuses on strengthening the capacities of innovation incubators, supporting their competitiveness, and assessing the effectiveness of incubators in local federal and educational establishments.
The fifth initiative, InstaBlock, is an immediate service offered by the Ministry in collaboration with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority that is dedicated to addressing complaints concerning livestream copyright infringements.
The IP SPORT initiative is also set to launch with the aim of increasing the number of registered trademarks in the UAE’s sports sector. This is a collaboration between the MoEc and the General Authority of Sports (GAS).
Another initiative from MoEc is the One Day TM initiative, which is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Finance.
It offers a service aimed at expediting the issuance of a trademark registration certificate.
MoEc will also implement the IP Platform initiative in collaboration with relevant government entities. This is a consolidated digital platform to be developed during the upcoming phase to connect and integrate data from various government departments responsible for enforcing intellectual property rights.
Further, the Ministry shared plans to introduce the ‘Hayyakom’ initiative in connection with the UAE’s hosting of the INTA Meeting to boost the UAE’s appeal to global companies and enhance its brand image.
The IP School initiative will develop a comprehensive portfolio of training programs for intellectual property endorsed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
It also involves designing suitable training programs for students in collaboration with the Organization, the Brand Owners Protection Group, and the Dhahi Khalfan Intellectual Property Center.
Finally, there is the virtual character ‘Aisha’, whose main purpose is to raise awareness of intellectual property rights, engage with the public, and address their queries.
This will be achieved through event participation or social media platforms.
The launch event was organised by the Ministry in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, and H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry, as well as representatives of several federal and local government entities and academic and research institutions in the country.
There, the Minister of Economy said: “The UAE has made great strides in developing its intellectual property sector in accordance with global best practices, recognizing it as a fundamental and key pillar for promoting economic growth. The launch of the new IP system is a milestone in our efforts to enhance the country’s transition into a knowledge and innovation economy and develop an incubating national environment for intellectual property, innovation and patent activities. This is in accordance with global best practices and in line with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031″ vision to establish the UAE as a global hub for the new economy and strengthen its position among the top 15 countries in the Global Innovation Index.”
H.E. Bin Touq explained that the new system is based on four main themes:
- Promoting the comprehensive protection offered to intellectual property rights,
- Reducing violations faced by patentees and innovators,
- Resolving disputes, and
- Developing the services provided by the Ministry to individuals and institutions wishing to register patents.
“It will be based on AI technology, allowing enablers and facilities to support the growth of R&D-based projects, exploit the fruits of intellectual property protection and market them as national exports to foreign markets,” he said.
Adding: “The new system will play a prominent role in increasing the revenues of the national IP sector by facilitating the export of advanced national products and services based on innovation and modern technology to foreign markets. It will also stimulate the attraction of intellectual property investments by supporting trademark registration and patents, as well as work on technology transfer from advanced to emerging sectors by providing licenses for the use of technology and knowledge. This will contribute to increasing the sector’s contribution to the growth of the national economy and its competitiveness at regional and global levels.”