WIPO Director General: Innovation is like a river flowing from the mountains to the sea

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization said that innovation is like a river flowing from the mountains to the sea, at the source of the river is research and development in which Vietnam is investing a lot.

Within the framework of the program, he will visit and work in Vietnam at the invitation of the Ministry of Science and Technology . Mr. Daren Tang - Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shared with reporters about the connection orientation.

- Sir, how do you evaluate the results of Vietnam continuing to be recognized as a country "innovating beyond expectations" in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025? What solutions should Vietnam prioritize to improve the remaining pillars to enhance the quality of innovation in the coming years?

Mr. Daren Tang: As Director General of WIPO, the global innovation agency, I would like to congratulate Vietnam on the 80th anniversary of its National Day. Over the past 80 years, Vietnam has changed a lot in terms of society, economy and culture. Now, Vietnam is entering a new chapter of development.

I believe that science, technology and innovation are the driving forces, and with the political determination of the whole country, Vietnam will succeed. Over the past 10 to 15 years, Vietnam has proven that its efforts are real. The achievement of ranking 76th in 2013 and 44th in 2024 is indeed very rare in history. With this achievement, Vietnam has a solid foundation for the next chapter of development.

However, for the country’s next chapter to be truly a development chapter, Vietnam needs to do three things. First, strengthen investment in research and development. Along with that, improve and build human capacity to concretize creative ideas into tangible results such as creating jobs, production, and services.

The National Office of Intellectual Property and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of intellectual property. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

Another point is that our economy is no longer dependent on manufacturing, assembly, or agriculture like before, but will shift to an intellectual economy. In my opinion, these are the things that Vietnam needs to implement to change.

- Vietnam is continuing to study and amend and perfect the Intellectual Property Law. In your opinion, what points should Vietnam pay attention to in the process of amending the Law? Does WIPO have any specific cooperation and support plans for Vietnam to promote the commercialization of inventions and improve intellectual property protection capacity in new technology fields?

Mr. Daren Tang: Previously, intellectual property protection was mainly related to registration and protection of rights. I think this is not really enough. Therefore, the change that both WIPO and Vietnam are aiming for is the commercialization of intellectual property rights.

After an entity has an idea, it proceeds with the registration activities. The question is how they can turn those inventions into concrete economic results. Vietnam and WIPO are trying very hard to create a roadmap to bring the idea to market, creating economic results for the country.

With this new approach, intellectual property rights will no longer be just a matter of regulation but will become an ecosystem for schools and academies to collaborate with businesses from small and medium-sized to large enterprises to startups.

In addition, raising the skills and awareness of all people towards intellectual property rights is really important. This is also the practical vision that WIPO has just realized through the memorandum of understanding signed with the Ministry of Science and Technology. Moreover, this document will become a very important catalyst to promote Vietnam to the next chapter of development.

Mr. Daren Tang said that the story of innovation is like a river flowing from the mountains to the sea, at the source of the river is research and development (R&D) in which Vietnam is investing a lot. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

- The Vietnamese government is targeting double-digit GDP growth in the coming years. In your opinion, how should innovation and intellectual property be promoted to become the driving force to realize this goal?

Mr. Daren Tang: I always think that the story of innovation is like a river flowing from the mountains to the sea, at the source of the river is research and development (R&D) in which Vietnam is investing a lot.

The more we invest in R&D, the stronger our river will flow to the sea. However, to make the flow gentle and coordinated, we need to have support solutions so that the ideas of the Vietnamese people can gradually become typical for the region, typical in the world.

WIPO is committed to helping Vietnamese partners connect with businesses. A typical example is that right here in Vietnam, we have an initiative called "Lab to market" (from lab to market) to support technology students in academies and schools, helping them to bring to market, create business models originating from research institutes and universities (spin-off models) from their own products from school to connect with businesses.

Thus, intellectual property rights will truly become a bridge, becoming part of the development ecosystem. I also believe that through Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, WIPO will also commit to accompanying Vietnam in realizing the contents of this Resolution, creating a future-oriented knowledge economy for Vietnam.

- Thank you for the conversation./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tong-giam-doc-wipo-doi-moi-sang-tao-giong-nhu-con-song-chay-tu-nui-ra-den-bien-post1063966.vnp