An official event was held on January 6^th, 2024, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE), under the esteemed patronage of H.E. Abdulla Alsaleh to give some key updates on recent initiatives in the IP sector.

The event was held at Dubai Scientific Park and attended by the AIPPI UAE board and wide range of national group members.

IP Sector Initiatives

The various IP departments within the Ministry, i.e., Patent, Trademark and Copyright Offices, were invited to present the successes of the previous year as well as initiatives and goals for the new year. Some of the key updates were communicated to the attendees as follows:

1. Patent: Patent system and technical upgrades.
2. Expedited examination times: Expedited time frame should be anticipated in the coming year.
3. Patent Hive: The Patent Hive initiative encompasses a range of strategies including raising awareness regarding the importance of IP. Enhancing integration between the IP sector and R&D initiatives and encouraging students and young innovators to protect their IP rights.
4. Goal: The MoE set an ambitious goal of reaching 6,000 patent registrations (i.e., grants) by 2026.
5. RiSE (Reinforcing Intangibles to Strengthen the Economy). The UAE is currently ranked 32 in the Global Innovation Index of most innovative economies, and through initiatives like RiSE, it aims to secure its place in the top 15.
6. Financial Support: The MoE explained their initiatives to provide financial support to student innovations and SMEs.
7. Trademark: The Trademark Department’s efforts were centred on improving awareness but also working tirelessly to advance the trademark registration process, improving the efficiency and transparency of the system to make it easier for businesses to protect their brands.
8. Copyright: The Copyright Department continued to make efforts to educate the youth about the value of copyright protection, especially in an increasingly digital world. The INSTABLOCK initiative continues to grow to combat online copyright infringement. More than 1,200 infringing websites have been intercepted, providing a powerful tool for copyright holders to protect their rights.

• Key message from the event and initiative:

It is evident that the Ministry of Economy is eager to foster IP creation and to ensure IP protection as one of the strategies for economic growth. The Ministry delivered strong statements regarding its desire to create an environment where creators and businesses can innovate and where the UAE can attract creative talent.

AIPPI UAE Group continues to be a strategic partner, and its members will continue to support the initiatives by the Ministry of Economy to achieve its goals and position the UAE at the top 15 ranking in the Global Innovation Index.