About

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network is an organization founded in 2018 by a group of academics working in Asia, Europe, and North America to provide initiatives for discussions and exchanges for scholars researching Intellectual Property (IP) and innovation-related topics in Asia and/or from an International and Comparative Law perspective.

In particular, the mission of the IPIRA Network is to promote a robust research community focusing on IP and Innovation-related themes and create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between academics in different countries. The IPIRA Network also aims to promote interaction between IP and Innovation researchers and international organizations, national governments, and NGOs to facilitate policy-oriented discussions on IP, innovation, and sustainable development.

The IPIRA Network‘s activities include organizing the Annual IP & Innovation Researchers Asia (IPIRA) Conference at an Asian university in collaboration with universities worldwide. Since 2021, the IPIRA Network has additionally organized the IPIRA Online Colloquium for junior researchers to promote the publication of Asian-focused scholarship. No less important, the IPIRA Network promotes the study of Asian Law by creating opportunities for academics in the region to present at national and regional events.

Following the success of the First PIRA Conference in Malaysia in 2019, the IPIRA Network organized the Second IPIRA Conference in Indonesia in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Third IPIRA Conference and the Fourth IPIRA Conference were held online, respectively, in 2021 and 2022. The Fifth IPIRA Conference was held in Singapore in 2023, and the Sixth IPIRA Conference was hosted in Viet Nam in 2024.

The IPIRA Network will host the Seventh IPIRA Conference in 2025 at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. The Call for Applications is available here.

Annual Conference

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network is pleased to host the Seventh IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Conference on 4-6 April 2025 at Waseda University, Faculty of Law in Tokyo, Japan.

The Seventh IPIRA Conference is organized in cooperation with Waseda University, Faculty of Law and the following academic institutions, organizers of the previous editions of the Conference: the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia; the Division of Business Law, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University; Foreign Trade University; the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia; Texas A&M University School of Law; and the Faculty of Law, University of Geneva.

As in previous years, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) also support the Conference.

In addition,  a distinguished group of academics from across Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas serve on the Scientific Committee of the Conference.

 

Conference Schedule

The Seventh IPIRA Conference is an in-person event only.

The Conference will start on Friday, 4 April 2025 at 3.00 p.m. and continue until 6.30 p.m. A Welcome Reception will conclude the First Day.

The Conference will resume on Saturday, 5 April 2025 at 8:45 a.m. and continue until 6.30 p.m. A Conference Dinner will conclude the Second Day.

The Conference will resume on Sunday, 6 April 2025 at 8:45  a.m., and conclude at 3.00 p.m.

The Conference’s Program is available here.

The Biographies of the Conference’s Speakers are available here.

The Abstracts of the Works-in-Progress presented will be available at the Conference for speakers and attendees.

 

Format and Time for Presentations

The Seventh IPIRA Conference will feature a combination of keynotes, plenary, and parallel sessions.

Presenters in the parallel sessions will have approximately 25 minutes for their presentation, including comments and questions from the audience. We encourage participants to speak for no longer than 15 minutes, reserving considerable time for comments and questions.

All presenters are strongly encouraged to attend the whole Conference.

 

Costs

There are no registration fees or other costs associated with attending the Seventh IPIRA Conference. In addition, participants will enjoy complimentary refreshments, lunch, and dinner during the Conference.

However, all presenters and attendees must cover their travel-related and accommodation expenses.

Participants will also be responsible for obtaining and covering the costs related to their travel visa and any other necessary travel documents.

 

Conference Venue and Arrival Kit

Information about the Conference’s venue is available here, and a suggested list of hotels is available here. Participants can book a room with these hotels directly. In general, the Organizers encourage participants to check for hotel rates and possible alternative accommodations online.

 

Questions

For questions and information, email us at IPResearchersAsia@gmail.com.

 

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU AT THE

SEVENTH IPIRA CONFERENCE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past Conferences

Starting in 2019, the IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network has organized the Annual IP & Innovation Researchers Asia (IPIRA) Conference. The IPIRA Conference is today one of the premiere annual academic gatherings in Asia, attracting a large number of participants—from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas—to discuss their research with other academics, policy makers, and officials from international organizations. For the programs, news, and information about the past IPIRA Conferences, visit the respective conference page by clicking on the pictures below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members

A list of the members of the IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network is available here.  The list is updated regularly to reflect new registrations.

The IPIRA Network welcomes registrations by full-time and part-time academics and researchers, including Ph.D. candidates, from all countries in Asia, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Central America, South America, and Africa. The IPIRA Network also welcomes registrations from public officials and members of the judiciary.

In general, private practitioners and those working as in-house counsels can apply to be part of the IPIRA Network only when they have part-time teaching or research responsibilities or are otherwise affiliated with an academic institution or research center.

Undergraduate students and LL.M. candidates without teaching or research responsibilities cannot apply to be part of the IPIRA Network.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the IPIRA Network, fill the form available on the page Join the Network and follow the instructions as indicated.  Your name and affiliation will be included in the next updated list of the network published on this page.

Join the Network

Academics and researchers from universities and research centers with an interest in Asian, International, and Comparative Law, including Ph.D. candidates, are welcome to join the IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network.

Join the IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia Network

Please note that, by requesting to join the IPIRA Network and by filling the above form with your information and contact details, you accept to receiving emails from us to notify you of the Annual IPIRA Conference and related events. If you prefer not to receive emails from us, please specify so in comment box.