BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei marked World Intellectual Property Day 2024 with a celebration on Monday, jointly organised by the Brunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) and the telco Datastream Digital (DST).
Held at the Rizqun International Hotel, the event centred on the theme “IP and the SDGs: Building Our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity”.
The celebration highlighted the critical role of intellectual property in advancing sustainable development, with a focus on its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Datin Hjh Nor Hashimah Hj Mohammed Taib, the Attorney General and Registrar of Trade Marks, Patents, and Industrial Designs, delivered the keynote address.
She emphasised intellectual property as a key driver of sustainable development, noting its critical role in fostering innovation and addressing global challenges. Specific areas of focus included IP’s contributions to sustainable agriculture, quality education, clean energy, and climate action.
In his welcoming remarks, DST CEO Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni stressed the importance of digital innovation, calling for more investment in digital infrastructure and human capital to advance Brunei’s digital economy.
“By embracing the principles of the Global Innovation Index and the SDGs, we can position ourselves to become catalysts for our digital economy,” he said.
The event also featured presentations from the World Intellectual Property Organization and Amazon Web Services titled “Understanding the Link Between IP and SDGs” and “Innovation with Amazon’s Working Backwards Process”.
There were also discussion panels with IP experts from BruIPO, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the Ministry of Education, and Brunei Innovation Lab.
The event drew approximately 200 people from government agencies, academic institutions, businesses and the legal community.
“The strong turnout underscored the shared commitment of BruIPO and DST to fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth both in Brunei and beyond,” the telco said in a statement.