Emirates Intellectual Property Association said it has joined forces with Dubai Government Excellence Program to promote innovation and intellectual property rights protection in the UAE.
The duo has recommended creation of intellectual property departments across all government entities in the UAE.
A joint workshop was recently hosted by the two in Dubai under the theme 'Intellectual Property and Support of Government Innovation'. It was attended by around 400 representatives coming from various government and private bodies.
The setting up of intellectual property departments comes as per the directives of Major General Dr Abdul Quddus Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly, the assistant commander-in-chief for Dubai Police’s Quality and Excellence and chairman of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association’s (EIPA) board of directors.
Dr Ahmed Al Nusairat, DGEP’s Coordinator General, attended the session along with Dubai’s elite group of stakeholders involved in innovation, creation, and intellectual property rights.
Main discussions focused on how the local government agencies can best harness their brands in the efforts to increase their income through the privatization of some sectors, it stated.
Participants also called on DGEP to develop a rating system and develop a set of standards of excellence governing intellectual, literary, artistic, industrial and commercial property within government departments.
This move supports ongoing national efforts aimed towards promoting innovation in all aspects of government work - falling in line with the directives of the country’s wise leadership, remarked Al Nusairat.
The government seeks to build a knowledge-driven economy led by forward-thinking innovators who can catapult the UAE into being one of the most advanced countries in the world, it added.
Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullah Al Mur, the director general of Dubai Police’s Human Rights Department and vice chairman of EIPA’s board of directors, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of Major General Dr Al Obaidly.
He pointed out that intellectual property plays a strategically important role in driving innovation.
"The UAE is taking pioneering steps towards shaping a prosperous future based on progress, modernization, and innovation," noted Al Mur.
"We are fully aware of the importance of establishing the concept of intellectual property and identifying ways of protecting and granting patents. Such a move will provide innovators with theoretical and practical information on how to apply for patents at the national and international levels," he added.
Al Nusairat pointed out at the need to raise awareness on the importance of intellectual property and promote the concepts of innovation in the government.
"Both intellectual property and innovation play a fundamental role in building excellent individual and corporate capabilities and empowering creative and innovative employees to enable them to actively contribute to the development of their organizations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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