Dubai-based Hamdan Innovation Incubator has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with United Trademark and Patent Services to protect the patents and intellectual property rights of entrepreneurs, said a report.

Hamdan Innovation Incubator is an initiative of Dubai SME, the agency mandated to foster the small and medium enterprise sector.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will cooperate in promoting a culture of innovation and supporting SMEs, said a Wam news agency report.

The incubator will provide member entrepreneurs with relevant solutions and programmes in cooperation with the company, it added.

The company has lawyers and administrative staff specialised in intellectual property rights, patents, industrial models and trademarks.

The MoU was signed by Saeed Al Marri, deputy CEO of Dubai SME, and Maria Farouq Irfan Khan, the executive director of United Trademark and Patent Services.

Al Marri noted that the innovation incubator seeks to encourage citizens to come up with local creative inventions, and the new co-operation will help achieve Dubai's strategy for supporting SMEs and empowering nascent businesses to turn prototypes of their inventions into businesses.