ASEAN advances regional IP cooperation with launch of ASPEC+ framework
Date: 2026-04-14
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has joined ASEAN member states
and dialogue partners at the 78th ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property
Cooperation (AWGIPC) to advance initiatives aimed at strengthening the region’s
intellectual property ecosystem.
A
key outcome of the meeting was the launch of ASPEC+, an enhanced framework
building on the existing ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation (ASPEC)
programme. The upgraded initiative is designed to deliver more harmonised
patent reports and establish committed timelines among ASEAN intellectual
property offices.
Officials
said the development is expected to provide businesses and innovators with
greater predictability in patent examination outcomes, thereby supporting
cross-border expansion and investment across the ASEAN region.
In
parallel with the AWGIPC discussions, Singapore also participated in the SCOPE
IPR Seminar on Valuation and IP-Backed Finance, alongside representatives from
the World Bank Group, the European Union, South Korea’s Ministry of
Intellectual Property, and the International Valuation Standards Council.
During
the seminar, Singapore shared its approach to intellectual property disclosure,
valuation, and financing, highlighting the importance of collaboration between
enterprises and financial institutions in unlocking the economic value of IP
assets.
Participants
identified a shared priority across markets to transform intellectual property
rights into tangible business value and investable assets that can drive
enterprise growth and innovation.
The
engagements underscored a collective commitment among ASEAN countries to build
more connected, efficient, and enterprise-focused intellectual property systems
to support regional economic development.
