Universities, research labs, and MSMEs collaborate to drive innovation

Trademarks, creative designs, innovations, and literary and artistic works created by MSME entrepreneurs can all be pro­tected under the intellectual property system, ensuring legal protection for their creations.

 

Chairman of the State Adminis­tration Council, Prime Minis­ter Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the opening of the International Con­ference on Intellectual Property (2025) at the Jasmine Naypyitaw Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

 

The Senior General unveiled the ceremony by applying digital technol­ogy.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Sen­ior General said that intellectual prop­erty (IP) is important and indispensa­ble in the areas of international trade, foreign investment, and scientific and technological collaboration.

 

He continued that to foster greater innovation and creativity, it is neces­sary to establish a system that connects universities, research institutions, and MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium En­terprise) businesspersons.

 

He pointed out that a robust intel­lectual property system plays a crucial role in building a modern and devel­oped nation, significantly supporting industrial development and helping attract greater foreign investment.

 

He noted that the conference aims to enhance intellectual property (IP) aware­ness and knowledge, promote innova­tion, creativity, and entrepreneurship, foster greater investment, trade, and commerce, and support the country’s economic development.

 

The Senior General highlighted that the conference is being organized with the theme of building a strong intellec­tual property ecosystem that encourag­es innovation, drives economic growth, and helps preserve cultural heritage in Myanmar.

 

He emphasized that to effectively protect the interests of the people and their creative innovations, four types of intellectual property laws were enacted in 2019: the Trademark Law, the Industrial Design Law, the Patent Law, and the Copyright Law. The Trademark Law, In­dustrial Design Law, and Copyright Law came into force in 2023, while the Patent Law came into effect in 2024 to provide legal protection and promote innovation.

 

He recounted that Myanmar, being a member of the World Trade Organi­zation-WTO and the World Intellectual Property Organization-WIPO has to fol­low the Trade-Related Aspect of Intellec­tual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement in addition to taking part in the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Co-operation.

 

The Senior General explained that Myanmar is currently implementing the ASEAN Regional Intellectual Property Action Plan under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The country is also aligning its intellectual property practices with those of other regional and ASEAN member states.

 

He underscored that Myanmar is also implementing its national-level My­anmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) 2018–2030.

 

He stressed that as intellectual prop­erty (IP) plays a role within this plan, the use of an effective IP system can great­ly support the promotion of innovation across all sectors, including the estab­lishment of sustainable and long-lasting industrial enterprises.

 

The Senior General noted that the trademarks used, creative designs pro­duced, innovations developed, and liter­ary and artistic works created by MSME entrepreneurs can all be protected under the intellectual property (IP) system, en­suring legal protection for their creations.

 

He spotted that connecting universi­ties and research institutions with MSME businesspersons to help bring innova­tions and creations to the market is a sys­tem commonly practised in economically developed countries. Therefore, it is also necessary to promote and strengthen the use of intellectual property in the MSME sector.

 

By studying and analyzing knowl­edge and findings from intellectual prop­erty research papers, he expressed his firm belief that intellectual property in­sights capable of addressing challenges and problems in the IP field will improve and expand. The acquired knowledge can then be effectively shared and applied for mutual benefit.

 

The Senior General and attendees viewed a documentary on 2025 (Interna­tional Conference on Intellectual Prop­erty-2025) and visited the exhibition to mark the International Conference on Intellectual Property-2025.

 

Also, present at the ceremony were Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, council members, Union-level dig­nitaries, Union ministers, senior Tat­madaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, deputy ministers and officials in addition to internal and exter­nal IP experts, rectors from universities, resource persons, legal experts, IP doc­torate trainees and guests.

 

The conference will last till 4 July, and internal and international resource persons will participate in discussions under relevant topics. — MNA/TTA