Ministry of Economy to Launch First National Center to Examine Issue of Patents

Ministry of Economy Collaborates with Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) as Part of MoU 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 08 May, 2014 – The Ministry of Economy (MoE) is set to launch the UAE’s first-ever national patents center in collaboration with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). 

Korean experts and technicians will collaborate with MoE during the preliminary operational phase of the center to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise to national cadres.

His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said the launch of the first national center to examine and issue patents in the UAE follows the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was inked between the two countries on the sidelines of the recent Joint Economic Meeting held in the South Korean capital, Seoul. 

The Minister said the new center will conform to best international practices and standards adopted in the intellectual property sector. He added that the center will help facilitate an enabling and supportive environment that encourages innovation. The new center is also expected to motivate the UAE residents and citizens to develop lateral thinking and innovation, in line with the UAE’s vision of shaping a knowledge economy.

The signing of the second phase of the cooperation agreement between the MoE and KIPO took place in the presence of His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri. The agreement was ratified by His Excellency Engineer Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and His Excellency Kim Young Min, Commissioner-President of KIPO.

Al Shehhi stated agreement comes within the framework of the Ministry’s strategy to streamline procedures in protecting intellectual property, especially with regards to registration of patents. He said the UAE seeks to benefit from the experience of countries such as South Korea through the cooperation agreement.

The agreement outlines the framework, mechanism and procedures required for the development of a patent system in the country. It also specifies the procedures that need to be set in place for reviewing patent applications received within the UAE. 

Al-Shehhi outlined the outcome of talks held between the MoE and technical team from the KIPO office, which will oversee the establishment of the UAE patent center. He stressed that the UAE had finalized the proposed infrastructure design for the project and would provide a comfortable work environment for the KIPO team at the MoE’s offices in Abu Dhabi, commencing June 2015.

His Excellency Kim Young Min, Commissioner-President of the Korean Patent Office praised the cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and KIPO, and commended the UAE’s keenness in developing a world-class patent center. He stressed the Korean side’s interest in choosing the best experts and technicians to carry out the project in accordance with the highest quality standards. 

His Excellency Kim Young Min, Commissioner-President of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, said: "We are pleased to announce that our team of technical experts who will work with the UAE’s Ministry of Economy on this distinctive project is already here in the UAE, among friends. We thank the people of the UAE for their hospitality and cordiality, and look forward to making this landmark project a reality.”

Khalfan Al Suwaidi, Director of Intellectual Property Department at the Ministry of Economy, said: “The infrastructure of the patent centre will be assessed in order to fit several requirements - technology, application processes and finalization of patent procedures. The patent program will be updated and developed in line with international best practices. The agreement has mandated the exchange of information on systems and practices relating to intellectual property with the Korean side, and involves organizing a number of programs and initiatives in the UAE on patent managements that will be prepared and presented by KIPO’s experts.”

He added that the agreement has a two-year time frame with the option to extend for an additional third year, during which 1,500 patent applications will be reviewed. The new center is expected to contribute significantly towards enhancing the country's position in the Global Competitiveness Report.