Bandar Seri Begawan, 7 & 8 June 2023 – The Brunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office ('BruIPO') and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia ('ERIA') recently concluded the highly successful Workshop on Patent Information Search and Invention Business Contest. The event, held from 7 – 8 June 2023 at the Jubilee Hall of the Law and Courts Building, brought together esteemed professionals, experts and innovators to explore and promote the importance of Patent Information Search & Utilization and its significance for fostering innovation and business growth.

The workshop, inaugurated by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmad bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, the Honourable Attorney General, who is also the Registrar of Trade Marks, Patents and Industrial Designs, commenced with a warm welcome to all participants and expressed gratitude to ERIA for their invaluable support in organising the event. Also present at the opening ceremony were Yang Mulia Hajah Zuraini binti Haji Sharbawi, Solicitor General, senior AGC officials and senior officials from local higher education institutions.

Distinguished speakers including Mr. Takashi Koyama, Professor Fumihiko Moriya, Mr. Yorihisa Katsunuma and Professor Yoshitoshi Tanaka shared their profound insights on leveraging patent information for business purposes and conducting effective patent searches during the workshop.

The importance of patents as the foundation of innovation was emphasised throughout the workshop. With a focus on Patent Information Utilization, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of patent landscapes, explored best practices for patent information search, and discovered how patents can drive economic growth and technological advancement. The workshop served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and networking.

The main highlight of the workshop was the Invention Business Contest, led by ERIA and facilitated by BruIPO. Participants were immersed in a series of informative sessions and hands-on activities designed to deepen their knowledge and proficiency in patent information searching. Building on their newfound knowledge, the participants were then presented with a group activity, providing them an opportunity to showcase their learning through a case study-based patent search exercise. A total of 33 participants attended the workshop comprising of professors, researchers, Ph.D / Masters students and entepreneurs.

About ERIA:

The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia ('ERIA') is an international organisation formally established in 2008 by the ASEAN leaders together with Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, to conduct research activities and make policy recommendations for further economic integration in the East Asian region.