HCM CITY — Experts from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and ten ASEAN member-countries have gathered in HCM City for a three-day workshop to promote IP training and research in universities.

“In the context of the knowledge-based economy, the role of IP in development is more and more important,” said Nguyen Van Bay, head of the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam’s Research and Training centre.

“This is the first workshop held by WIPO to discuss how to improve awareness by encouraging IP research, training and development in universities.”

At the workshop which opened on Wednesday, ASEAN experts, professors, lecturers and managers are comparing notes and discussing how to promote college-level training and research in IP with experts from developed nations like the UK and Japan. In Viet Nam, there are two separate compulsory courses for law students on copyright and IP law. Some law schools also offer courses like IP in international transactions, laws on technology transfer, and dispute settlement under IP laws.

Pham Duy Nghia, associate professor and head of Business Law Department, Faculty of Law, Viet Nam National University in Ha Noi, told the workshop, “I recognised the need to set standards at least in teaching IP laws and consider ways to strengthen IP practice, education, and professional training.”

He suggested setting up a centre with regular training courses offering patent lawyer diplomas. The centre should separate academic education and professional skills training, he said. — VNS