UK-China IP symposium highlights importance of innovation
UK China symposium co-hosted by the IPO and China's State Intellectual Property Office in London.
The 2017 UK-China symposium took place in London on Friday 22 September 2017, Co-hosted by the UK’s Intellectual Property Office and China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). This annual flagship event for UK-China intellectual property (IP) co-operation formed part of a week of UK-China IP related activity.
The theme of this year’s event was ‘Future proofing the IP system’. It saw more than 200 thought leaders, policy makers and UK industry trendsetters in attendance.
Topics of discussion included:
- how the intellectual property system is adapting to emerging technology trends such as AI and big data,
- the latest policy and practice innovations in the patent and trade mark fields;
- the challenges of online and offline IP enforcement as well as practical advice for innovative and creative business, including in design-intensive industries
The keynote address was delivered by Lord Prior, UK Business Minister and Vice Commissioner Gan Shaoning of [SIPO]. In his address, Lord Prior highlighted the increased co-operation and work sharing between the UK and China on intellectual property.
He said:
The fourth industrial revolution will be based above all on new ideas and new technology this means that the need for a robust IP regime has never been stronger or more necessary.
This Symposium presents a key opportunity for UK industry to engage with Chinese policy makers to discuss a wide range of IP issues, ensuring we deliver an IP system that protects innovation and creativity that can help boost economic growth and trade for both countries.
Linked to the event, the UK IP Attaché for China, Tom Duke, hosted a series of 8 regional events over 4 days. This year they took place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester. These events focussed on practical IP advice for large and small companies looking to mitigate IP risks in China business ventures.
Following on from this successful symposium, UK IPO Chief Executive Tim Moss will visit China later in the Autumn as part of continued engagement with his Chinese counterparts.