Singapore, 24–28 August 2026: ERIA took part in the 79th ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC), hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). The meeting brought together intellectual property (IP) leaders from across ASEAN and beyond to strengthen partnerships and advance implementation of the ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan 2026–2030.

At the 16th ASEAN–Japan Heads of IP Offices Meeting, held as part of the AWGIPC agenda, ERIA’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Takayuki Yamanaka, presented findings from three of the Institute’s IP research projects, covering branding strategies, patent examination practices in pharmaceutical and related technologies, and the role of IP in ASEAN’s semiconductor supply chain.

ERIA also outlined upcoming initiatives to support implementation of the ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan 2026–2030. The initiatives focus on three objectives:

• strengthening IP enforcement and regional co-operation;
• conducting comparative studies of enforcement laws and practices across ASEAN Member States; and
• developing evidence-based, ASEAN-level policy recommendations to strengthen IP enforcement, particularly in the rapidly evolving e-commerce and digital environment.

IP remains a key pillar of innovation, economic integration, and sustainable development for ERIA, and the Institute’s research agenda continues to reflect this commitment. Through its research and technical support, ERIA will continue to contribute evidence and policy insights to strengthen ASEAN’s IP ecosystem and advance regional economic development.