UBD EXPLORES OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND COLLABORATION WITH WIPO

UBD EXPLORES OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND COLLABORATION WITH WIPO

May 19, 2023

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, 19 May 2023 – Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) through the Office of Assistant Vice Chancellor (Innovation & Enterprise) recently hosted a visit from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in a bid to foster collaboration and explore innovative opportunities. The meeting was held at UBD, and aimed to introduce UBD to WIPO's latest developments and initiatives, to enhance and optimize the university's research, innovation, and enterprise ecosystem.

Leading the WIPO delegation was Mr. Ye Min Than, a Senior Programme Officer, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at WIPO, accompanied by Mr. Steve Maverick Chaves, Head of Ideation Support at ATENEO Intellectual Property Office, Ateneo De Manila University, Philippines. Joining them were representatives from the Intellectual Property Office Brunei Darussalam (BruIPO).

UBD was represented by Professor Dr. Mohd Ayub Sadiq, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Innovation & Enterprise), along with Pg. Dr. Emeroylariffion Pg. Abas, Director of IE, and Dr. Annie Dayani binti Ahad Abdullah, Deputy Director of IE.

The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate knowledge exchange and discuss the latest developments and initiatives from WIPO that could support and optimize UBD's research, innovation, and enterprise ecosystem. The delegation also shared valuable insights and experiences, providing UBD with inspiration from Ateneo University's successful ecosystem development.

Collaboration and cooperation were among the key themes throughout the discussions, as UBD, WIPO, and Ateneo University explored potential areas of synergy. The aim was to strengthen UBD's ecosystem and foster a culture of innovation, aligning with the nation's aspirations. Brunei Darussalam's current position as the 92nd economy in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022 was also highlighted, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and support from all stakeholders, in partnership with WIPO, to propel Brunei towards realizing the goals of Wawasan Brunei 2035.

The visit concluded with a group photo session and shared commitment to continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of innovative initiatives to drive Brunei's innovation ecosystem forward.

by Abdul Hanif Morsidi