H.E. Ambassador Dr. Walter Werner

Korea, Republic of

11   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INNOVATION: SUMMARY OF THE 2018 THEME – THE SOCIETAL VALUE OF IP IN THE NEW ECONOMY, AND 2019 IP AND INNOVATION THEME: PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATIONS IN INNOVATION

376.   As a co-sponsor of the agenda item on IP & Innovation, Korea would like to join previous speakers in emphasizing the importance of the private and public collaboration in promoting IP, particularly R&D. The value of Private and Public Partnership is bigger for the small and medium size enterprises, which often lack the necessary capital and know-how in building IP. Recognizing this, Korean government has been carrying out various projects in collaboration with the private sector to help SMEs establish and promote IP. 377.   Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) provides SMES with various training opportunities that will help them build IP in cooperation with business associations. Through these opportunities, entrepreneurs or executive managers of those SMEs could learn how to better carry out R&D, and how to commercialize their IPs in the real market. 378.   Close partnership between business and academia has been promoted as well by governmentinitiated projects. KIPO has been providing a platform for collaboration between prestigious tech colleges and SMEs and supporting for innovative ideas brought up by tech colleges to serve as valuable input for R&D projects of SMEs. 379.   Public-private partnership has a crucial role to play in maximizing the potential of developing IPs and in further promoting innovation and creativity. In this sense, Korea hopes that Members of the Council will continue to share their national experiences of promoting IPs through close cooperation between public sector and private sector under this agenda item throughout 2019.

The Council took note of the statements made.

34.   The Chair said that the item had been put on the agenda at the request of Australia; Canada, Chile; the European Union; Hong Kong, China; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; and the United States of America. It covered two aspects of the broader topic of IP and innovation:
a. "The societal value of IP in the New Economy", a topic that the Council had discussed at its meetings last year. A relevant communication has been submitted to facilitate discussion (IP/C/W/650); and
b. "Public-Private Collaborations in Innovation", a theme proposed by the co-sponsors for 2019. A relevant communication had been submitted to facilitate discussion (IP/C/W/652 and Add.1).
35.   The representatives of the United States of America; Singapore; Australia; Switzerland; New Zealand; Chinese Taipei; Chile; South Africa; Hong Kong; China; Canada; Japan; Mexico; the European Union; the Republic of Korea; Brazil; China; India and the Dominican Republic took the floor.
36.   The Council took note of the statements made.

IP/C/M/91, IP/C/M/91/Add.1, IP/C/M/91/Corr.1