Successful IP, innovation events strengthen Hong Kong’s trading hub status

The Business of IP Asia (BIP Asia) Forum and Entrepreneur Day (E-Day) attracted more than 400 exhibitors as well as experts and business leaders from around the world, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading regional centre for IP trading and an international hub for innovation and technology.

The two events ran concurrently in the first week of December, featuring a diverse mix of exhibitions, competitions, workshops and business matching meetings.

The theme for this year’s BIP Asia Forum – which was jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) – was Reimagining IP for Impact and Growth.

Eric Chan, the Government’s Chief Secretary for Administration, outlined measures to enhance Hong Kong’s IP infrastructure and build an IP-savvy workforce in his opening remarks on the first morning.

These plans include updating Hong Kong’s Copyright Ordinance and the registered design regime as well as introducing legislative amendments to streamline IP litigation.

The Government’s Intellectual Property Department will also work the Qualifications Secretariat to develop IP training materials for 23 industries, Mr Chan added.

One key topic that emerged during the BIP Asia Forum was the importance of IP financing.

Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pointed out that global IP filings had mixed results last year.

This highlighted continued willingness to invest in IP while raising questions over how to accelerate development and turn downsides into positives, Ms Wang added.

“An important way to improve this trend is to promote IP financing, in particular financing high-potential start-ups and emerging technologies,” she said.

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam, who also spoke on the Forum’s first day, noted that the WIPO’s Global Innovation Index ranked the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster second worldwide for the fifth year in a row.

“Hong Kong is an international trading and investment centre, so we need to provide a free and fair environment in which to do business,” he said.

In addition to the annual BIP Asia Forum, the HKTDC leverages physical platforms such as the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market to promote the development and trading of cultural and creative products.

Meanwhile, this year’s E-Day, which was hosted by HKTDC, showcased more than 340 start-ups, invention projects and support services.

This included 10 start-ups from Thailand who were part of E-Day’s first Thai pavilion, organised by the Kingdom’s Department of International Trade Promotion.

Pannakarn Jiamsuchon, Thai Trade Commissioner & Consul (Commercial), said: “Our participation at E-Day not only promoted the Thai start-up sector but also drew global investors into the market, creating a win-win situation.”

Original article published in https://hkmb.hktdc.com