Pursue less-trodden paths

It is a success story that will no doubt inspire the IP offices of other countries that wish to pivot towards an IP economy. What drives Lee in her role?

A law graduate, Lee specialised early in her career in public international law. She is now a well-travelled diplomat, having held various roles including at Singapore’s diplomatic office in the Hague and as the country’s ambassador for oceans and law of the sea Issues and the special envoy of the minister for foreign affairs. Her love for her country and passion for furthering its interests is paramount.

“To be a member of the public service, to have had the experiences I have had, to be able to advocate for Singapore’s interests, continues to inspire me. When I embarked on my career, public international law was less well known and there were comparatively few practitioners in Singapore,” she says.

“Today, I am happy to say that interest and opportunities in this area have grown by a fair bit. For those looking to pursue similar less-trodden paths, I say: know what drives you, trust in yourself, have passion for what you do and go for it.”

In terms of her country’s success as a hub of innovation, Lee explains that Singapore’s diversity is a crucial factor. “Our English-speaking workforce, most of whom can also speak a second Asian language, enables us to act as a bridge between east and west. IPOS International, our enterprise and engagement arm, includes employees of nine nationalities from across Asia and Europe.

“Many of these colleagues have also had international experience, enabling them to better engage stakeholders.”

Promoting gender diversity

This cultural blend is matched with another positive diversity story about gender equality. Lee says it is her belief that in order to promote diversity “we have to demonstrate diversity”.

“I’m happy to say that within the IPOS group, we are making a start in this respect,” confirms Lee, noting that 30% of the office’s board members and 67% of the workforce are women (although their roles are not defined).

“In the wider IP ecosystem, encouraging more women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will be important in increasing participation in the sector,” says Lee, who highlights the IP sector’s variety of roles for which a STEM background may be beneficial but not necessary.

“Within the IPOS group, for example, the work we do is a confluence of law, policy and science. Therefore, beyond STEM roles, it is just as important to raise awareness of the range of roles and skillsets that are required for the IP sector to thrive and grow.

“It is also important to keep in mind that diversity goes beyond gender and establishing a shared understanding of the different aspects of diversity is our first step to promoting it.”

IP’s greatest challenges

Lee points to Singapore’s “strong rule of law and IP protection environment”.

“Singapore is recognised as a stable, predictable, and safe investment destination,” Lee explains. “These are crucial factors that companies consider when they make investment decisions, especially for high-value, innovation-rich businesses.

“As a small, open country with a responsive and business-friendly government, coupled with a well-educated and technology-savvy nation, Singapore can be a testbed for many new technologies and innovations. For example, Singapore is working with companies to test new solar, electric vehicle, and biomedical technologies.”

Then there is the geographical good fortune that has served it well in the past: a seven-hour flight radius to many major Asian cities, which makes it an “ideal springboard” for businesses to expand into Asia, says Lee.

IPOS has not been afraid to venture into new technological areas. The office launched its SG Patent Fast Track Program in May 2020, which aims to expedite the application-to-grant process of patents in all technology fields to six months, compared to the typical duration of two years.

The two-year programme is expected to end in April 2022 and replaces earlier fast-track schemes for fintech and artificial intelligence (AI).

The scheme saw some success when applied to a COVID-19-related technology patent, granted as an information technology invention in the area of contact tracing of persons of interest.

“We have since extended this fast-track system, now renamed SG IP FAST, to related trademarks and registered designs,” she confirms.

In Lee, as with her predecessor, Singapore appears to have found another keen advocate of ensuring IPOS’ mandate keeps pace with the demands of new industries, especially in the tech space.

“We see rapid advancements across diverse technology fields, including AI, ‘green’ and medical technologies, as well as digitisation. All these advancements will catalyse innovation, which in turn, will be undergirded by IP,” says Lee, who points out the twin challenges of rolling advances on the one hand and IP infringements on the other.

Impact of COVID-19

“While the pandemic has accelerated the advancement and adoption of digital solutions, it has also resulted in increased IP infringement in the digital space,” says Lee.

“This has resulted in more demands on IP owners managing their brands and creations during the pandemic. For example, content creators must be rigorous in stipulating details in licensing agreements for the digital space in using copyrighted music or videos.”

Lee reflects on how the challenges created by these new spaces sum up the “complex environment within which IP operates”. To deal with this, IPOS has rolled out several initiatives. For example, last year, it introduced the Growing with Resilience through Intangibles (GRIT) programme to help companies and creators in the creative sectors better manage their IP in the digital space.

SIPS 2030 also aims to capture new opportunities. One example is in the area of intangible asset (IA) valuation. Lee explains: “With a new global focus on IA valuation, there is a need for more comprehensive IA valuation guidelines which are interoperable across jurisdictions.

“Singapore will embark on developing a credible and trusted IA/IP valuation ecosystem, including the formation of an international IA/IP valuation panel to establish IA/IP valuation guidelines.”

IPOS will look into the monetisation, collateralisation, and financing of IAs to help enterprises unlock value for growth, she adds.

A savvy leader

Looking ahead, Lee sees the need to adapt quickly as an essential attribute for IP offices the world over. The pandemic has emphasised the need for speed and digitisation in IP registration and management, without any compromise in quality, she says.

“IP offices have had to adapt quickly to continue supporting businesses through various measures such as extending deadlines for applications or offering digital/remote solutions to meet their customers’ needs.

“With increased globalisation, IP offices need to continue collaborations with one another through international treaties and work-sharing agreements to facilitate protection of innovations around the globe.”

An IP office’s operations, policies, and rules work must be geared towards the purpose of IP: business growth, she explains. A neat example that borrows from all these developments can be seen in the office’s AI-backed mobile app, IPOS GO, which is used for trademark filing.

“Trends in the development and use of AI raise important issues for the IP regime. At the same time, they present opportunities for IP offices to examine how AI may be utilised to provide services of greater value to businesses,” says Lee.

With Singapore’s recovery from the pandemic continuing to impress (the country has suffered just 36 deaths to date), its economy will likely bounce back faster than many others’. The government has made it clear that IP will be paramount and in Lee, it appears to have a savvy leader at the helm.