IP Annual Report 2020

As of the first year to carry out the National IP Strategy, IP Viet Nam formulated and submitted to the Minister of Science and Technology to sign Decision No. 508/QDBKHCN on March 24, 2020 issuing its Implementation Plan for the National IP Strategy, as well as guided ministries and localities to implement the Strategy. The national IP strategy will either has its own Implementing plan or its activities will be embedded in other policies, program, development plan of relevant fields.

Although heavily affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, integration and international cooperation activities in intellectual property rights in 2020 were still proactively and actively implemented, making important
contributions to maintain cooperative activities for successful negotiations of international agreements, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement and the FTA between Viet Nam and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UKVFTA). In particular, to carry out the tasks of the Viet Nam’s 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, IP Viet Nam successfully hosted 03 online meetings of the
ASEAN Intellectual Property Working Group (AWGIPC) and assumed of the AWGIPC’s Chair in the period of 2019-2021.

In 2020, IP Viet Nam received 76.072 applications for establishment of IP rights, handled 71.829 applications and issued 48.072 registrations (increased by 1.3%, 10.5% and 18.1% over 2019, respectively). This showed strong efforts by the Office in establishing IP rights, adequately meeting the needs for protecting IP rights of individuals and businesses and ensuring a healthy environment for investments and businesses in Viet Nam, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

IP asset development was also a key area where IP Viet Nam dedicated a lot of attention and support through, providing opinions on documents of the Party, resolutions of the People’s Councils and decisions of the People’s Committees of provinces on the use of IP for local socioeconomic development. By 2020, 42 provinces had issued their Programme of IP Asset Development; 1,148 OCOP (One Commune One Product) products have been supported in regard of IP rights; thousands of training courses and communication programs on IP have been carried out; ect.

The year 2021 is of particular importance because of the taking place of the XIII National Congress of the Party, the election of the XV National Assembly and the first year to implement the Socio-Economic Development Strategy for the period of 2021- 2030 and the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the period of 2021-2025. Not only determine to well fulfill regular tasks, IP Viet Nam will also focus on implementing a number of key projects, including: drafting the Law of amending the current IP Law to submit for review by the XV National Assembly in October 2021; continuing an effective implementation of the National Intellectual Property Strategy and the National Program of IP Asset Development to 2030; actively and proactively participating in international IP integration and cooperation; completing a Scheme
to reform the organizational structure of IP Viet Nam in the period of 2021-2025 to submit for approval by the Minister of Science and Technology and implementing the Scheme once it is approved; effectively carrying out projects to upgrade the IT system, construct and repair the headquarters of the Office to provide better equipment and facilities to its staff; expanding the network of technology transfer centres (IP Hub) at universities, research institutes and enterprises, and promoting services to transform IP rights into important assets for economic development.

To successfully carry out the above tasks, there is a need for solidarity and dedication from all members of IP Viet Nam including the leaders, cadres, civil servants and employees, thereby strongly supporting the crucial role of the Office in the intellectual property system of Viet Nam, contributing to support the development of scientific and technological activities and serving the cause of socio-economic evelopment of the country./.

IP VIETNAM