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Intellectual property (IP) plays an important role for socio-economic development because of values created by intellectual property assets. Taking into account IP issues in making local development plan will be a solution to increase the value of this intangible asset. 

On April 10, 2019, in Quang Ninh, the Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam) under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) cooperated with related agencies of Quang Ninh province to organize a Conference on State Management of IP. It was an opportunity for IP Viet Nam and IP management agencies of localities throughout the country to discuss and evaluate achievements, limitations, challenges and solutions promoting IP activities in the coming time. Also at this event, participants could propose recommendations to MOST and the Government on policies need to be adjusted. 

Distinguised guests and participants attended the Conference were including Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac - former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh - Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh People's Committee Dang Huy Hau - and more than 300 representatives from MOST and Departments of Science and Technology nationwide. 

  

 

Panorama of the Conference on State Management of IP of 2019. 

  

In the opening speech, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac - emphasized that whenever mentioning a country or a nation, infrastructure was the first thing to be forcus; and then was intangible assets of this country/nation to contribute to human civilization. 

Statistically, in 1975, ratio of intangible assets on tangible assets of asset value total of 500 largest firms created power of the US economy was a  20/80 (i.e. 20% of intangible assets, 80% of tangible assets). But 40 years later, by 2015, the trend was completely turned over, tangible assets were only 20% and intangible assets accounted for 80%. It can be said that in a modern economy, intangible assets are main characteristics in association with its industrial development. 

  

  

 

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac delivered speech at the Conference. 

  

The Deputy Minister affirmed that IP is increasingly playing an important role in socio-economic activities. The added value that IP brings to individuals, organizations, businesses and society increasing day by day. Recently, the State has issued policies and improved legal system to further promote IP activities across the country as well as reviewed and amended the legal system to meet requirements of the CPTPP Agreement. It can be said that by now, Viet Nam has an fully appropriated legal system, in accordance with general international standards. Activities of the entire IP system have achieved several positive results. 

However, the Deputy Minister also acknowledged that the State management of IP in recent years still has many shortcomings that have not yet met requirements of society in new circumstances. Examination of industrial property applications has not yet met requirements on time limit; IP information database has not yet been efficiently; activities on providing industrial property information have been limited; activities on supporting development of IP assets have not yet been deployed evenly across the country and capacity building the field of IP has not yet been strong enough, etc. 

As a coordinator between ministries, sectors and localities in drafting the National IP Strategy as well as amending the IP Law, Ministry of Science and Technology shall have appropriate adjustments to meet Viet Nam’s commitments in its signed FTAs and CPTTP. "In the global game, it is compulsory to follow the regulations, this is also rights and obligations of Viet Nam," the Deputy Minister added. 

In acknowledgment of the role of IP in the socio-economic development of the country in general and of the locality in particular, Mr. Dang Huy Hau - Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh People's Committee provided that in 2019, Quang Ninh province has plan to spend over VND 1,000 billion for science and technology development. Particularly, the province has its own “brand building” project with investment cost of nearly VND 70 billion. In 2018, Quang Ninh had a total of 332 applications for industrial property rights which will be the basis for creating, establishing and developing IP assets aiming at objective of productive and business development. 

  

 

Mr. Dang Huy Hau, Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh People's Committee delivered a speech at the Conference. 

  

Mr. Hau also affirmed that "goods cannot be sold without brands". Development of geographical indications for some local products has contributed to increasing value of product brands, especially agricultural products (value increased from 20% to 50%). 

With the same view, Mr. Tran Viet Thanh, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology said that in relation to science, technology and innovation, IP is a big issue to challenge science and technology communities and managers in the next period. However, Mr. Thanh also said that there is a distance need to be shortened from awareness to action in order to bring IP become a motivation, a tool for socio-economic development. This is a key task indicated in the draft National IP strategy which is expected to submit to the Government in the coming time. 

Mr. Tran Viet Thanh noted that Departments of Science and Technology, institutes, universities, localities should be active in consultation and provision of advises to integrate IP into the overall content of local social-economic development Strategies. Only until then, key products can contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of the province. 

With reference to 2018 IP activities report, Mr. Phan Ngan Son, Deputy Director General of the IP Viet Nam said that operation of the IP Viet Nam has become more and more closely associated with general activities of the Government, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministries/sectors and localities through the use of IP assets as a tool for socio-economic development and innovation promotion. 

  

 

Mr. Phan Ngan Son, Deputy Director General of the IP Viet Nam reported at the Conference. 

  

In 2018, the number of applications to establish industrial property rights was increased (an increase of 8.1%), in which applications for inventions, utility solutions and trademark applications from abroad increased by 12.8%, 28.3% and 20% compared to 2017, respectively. The number of processed applications for industrial property rights was increased by 9.2%, in which the numbers of processed patent applications, utility solutions and trademark registration have increased significantly, respectively 12.8%, 28, 3% and 20%. Particularly, the IP Viet Nam had focused on processing applications for inventions, utility solutions filed by Vietnamese as well as oppositions and appeals, with and increase of 50% compared to 2017. 

The year of 2018 also recorded many encouraging results of IP activities in localities. Outreaching and dissemination of knowledge, policies and laws on industrial property rights continue to be highlights of local activities in order to further improve awareness of managers, sectors, businesses and the public. Many localities have been proactive and enthusiastic in outreaching and training on IP-related contents, including IP legal provisions, guidances of registration procedures of trademarks, guidances of IP exploitation in localities, etc. 

The handling of IP infringements, especially by administrative measures, has reduced in number of cases but increased significantly in the amount of fines. This shows the positivity of the competent authorities in handling IP infringement by administrative measures. 

Guidances on establishment and protection of IP rights have played important role in supporting local producers and businesses to improve competitiveness and value of IP assests. Particularly, in 2018, the number of people and businesses came for consultation about patent registration increased significantly. This clearly shows interest of society in inventions/ utility solutions in particular and in innovation activities in general. 

Projects on supporting IP asset development have confirmed effectiveness of proper investment, particularly projects on supporting development of local specialties and products with high potential for export, to contribute to creation of strong driving force for socio-economic development. In addition, measures to encourage and promote innovation activities are also organized throughout the country with a variety of activities. 

The Conference also noted lots of comments shared by Departments of Science and Technology relating to achievements, difficulties and solutions for development of IP activities in localities. Accordingly, one of the most current difficult issues is value exploitation of specific products that already obtained IP protection to develop for becoming a strong local product; and another issue is the slow in valuating of IP assets in practice. Regarding the lacking of IP human resources, especially the lacking of professional staff at specialized judicial courts, in the coming time, the IP Viet Nam shall propose to have a specialized court on IP. Some comments related to speeding up the handling process of IP applications and creating an online IP database in order to provide maximum supports for businesses. Some other comments related to increasing quality of examiners, etc. in order to improve business environment and national competitiveness. 

  

  

 

Mr. Dinh Huu Phi, Director General of the IP Viet Nam delivered a speech at the Conference. 

  

In order to resolve such difficulties and shortcomings, the IP Viet Nam shall deploy many solutions to promote the State management of IP in the coming time. Mr. Dinh Huu Phi, Director General Director of the IP Viet Nam said that the Prime Minister has assigned Ministry of Science and Technology to coordinate with related ministries and agencies to develop the National IP Strategy to guide operation of the national IP system in the next period. In that spirit, the IP Viet Nam was assigned by the Ministry of Science and Technology to continue its coordination with relevant ministries/ agencies to review and amend the IP Law; and to accelerate progress and examination quality of IP applications. 

Referring to priorities on IP of localities in the coming period, Mr. Phi also said that the localities should continue to focus on activities of: protection, exploitation and development of IP assets associated with local specialties; promotion of training for staff in charge of IP; making IP become an effective tool to improve competitiveness and socio-economic development as well as promote local innovation activities. 

  

 

  

 

Exhibition of products bearing brands of Quang Ninh province. 

  

Source link: https://www.most.gov.vn/vn/tin-tuc/15873/so-huu-tri-tue-thuc-day-hoat-dong-doi-moi-sang-tao-cua- dia-phuong.aspx 

Source: Center for Science and Technology Communication Research and Development