Singapore Launches First Intellectual Property Office in China’s Guangzhou Knowledge City

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) officially opened its first overseas representative office on May 24, 2016, at the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City in Guangdong, China. This marks a significant step in fostering closer intellectual property collaboration between Singapore and China, particularly as Chinese innovative enterprises continue to grow and seek international patent protection.

The new office is designed to enable Singapore-based IP service providers to engage directly with emerging innovative businesses in China, while also offering Chinese companies access to Singapore’s comprehensive suite of IP products and services. This bilateral linkage aims to support companies from both countries in managing and protecting their intellectual property as they expand into new markets, especially within the dynamic ASEAN region.

This initiative follows the inaugural AccessAsia@Singapore roadshow held earlier in May, which was jointly organized by IPOS, the Singapore Business Federation, and IE Singapore. The roadshow highlighted Singapore’s strategic position as an IP hub and promoted its value proposition to Chinese businesses seeking internationalisation.

The move responds to the increasing volume of patent applications originating from China. According to a recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) report, China ranks third globally for international patent applications filed under WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, trailing only the United States and Japan. These leading countries notably drive innovation in sectors such as computer technology and digital telecommunications.

IPOS Chief Executive Daren Tang emphasized the importance of supporting the “increasing flow of ideas, knowledge and innovation between China and South-East Asia.” He stated, “We want to help Singapore’s IP service providers connect with innovative companies in China, and also promote Singapore’s suite of IP products and services to Chinese companies that have set their sights on the dynamic ASEAN region.”

The office was inaugurated by Singapore’s Acting Minister for Education and Senior Minister of State for Defence, Ong Ye Kung, who also serves as Co-Chairman of the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council. Minister Ong described the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City as “an important flagship project aimed at becoming a knowledge and innovation zone, and catalysing the economic transformation of Guangdong.” He further noted that the Knowledge City would enhance the flow of information and knowledge aligned with China’s “One Belt One Road” vision.

Minister Ong added, “As more companies from Guangdong bring their innovations to the rest of the world, IPOS’ first representative office overseas will facilitate their link up with IP service providers in Singapore, to protect and manage their innovations in the South-East Asian region and beyond.”

A spokesperson from the Guangzhou Development District (GDD) highlighted that the new IPOS office will deepen bilateral intellectual property cooperation between Singapore and China. The office is expected to contribute to the development of a joint IP demonstration zone, increase bilateral exchanges, and attract additional IP service providers to establish a presence within the Knowledge City.