The UAE Ministry of Economy has launched a work plan for developing the country's industrial property sector at various levels in co-operation with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (Kipo) and the Korea Institute of Patent Information (Kipi).

The move follows up on the MoU signed by the two countries at the UAE-Korea Joint Economic Committee Meeting held recently in Abu Dhabi.

The work plan forms part of the Ministry of Economy’s preparations for establishing its ‘International Centre for Registration of Patents’ as well as the implementation of the recommendations of the UAE’s Ministerial Development Council presented in early May 2016.

In line with the plan, a UAE delegation headed by Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, the undersecretary of economic affairs, and accompanied by Dr Ali Al-Hosni, the assistant under-secretary for Intellectual Property Affairs, and Khalfan Al Suwaidi, the industrial property director, visited South Korea last month.

The group met Kipo representatives and discussed ways to enhance co-operation in developing ministry procedures related to industrial property and to prepare a programme for the automation of industrial property applications as stipulated in the MoU.

"Automating the industrial property sector is an essential step in fostering innovation and developing domestic industries," remarked Al Shehhi.

The agreement with the Kipo includes dedicating IT experts at the ministry for the automation of the industrial property applications project and providing consultation, training and technical support for the automated system.

The two parties also agreed that the Korean organisations will provide consultations and suggestions on the development of related regulations.

Al Shehhi said the plan was part of the ministry’s efforts to further develop national industries and create an environment conducive to innovation as well as the protection of intellectual property rights under which industrial property falls as a main segment.-TradeArabia News Service