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 policymakers, including officials of national governments and regional and international organizations, 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. In general, the IPIRA Network aims to promote the study of Asian Law by creating opportunities for academics in the region to present at national and regional events.

Since 2019, the IPIRA Network has organized seven Annual Conferences. The First PIRA Conference was hosted in Malaysia in 2019, and the Second IPIRA Conference was hosted in Indonesia in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Third and Fourth IPIRA Conferences were held online in 2021 and 2022. The Fifth IPIRA Conference was held in Singapore in 2023, the Sixth IPIRA Conference was hosted in Viet Nam in 2024, and the Seventh IPIRA Conference was hosted in Japan in 2025.

The Eight IPIRA Conference will be hosted again in Singapore at the Singapore University of Social Sciences in the first week of February 2026. More information and the Call for Applications will follow in August 2025. 

Annual Conference

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network organized 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 was organized in cooperation with Waseda University, Faculty of Law, with the support of 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. The Conference was additionally supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Japanese Patent Attorneys Association.

During the three days of the Conference, over 300 presenters and attendees gathered to discuss recent IP and Innovation developments. The Conference featured 42 parallel sessions spanning six sessions, each featuring seven thematic tracks. Presenters addressed key issues such as the impact of artificial intelligence on IP frameworks and sustainabilityIP commercialization, patent and trade secrets protection, international trade agreements, and the recent WIPO Treaties on Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge and Design.

The Conference also featured four Keynotes. Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector of WIPO, highlighted the growing role of Asia as an innovation powerhouse and called on the academic community to consider how IP systems must evolve to address mounting global challenges, from digital disruptions to climate change and economic inequality. Johanna Hill, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), emphasized the enduring connection between global trade and innovation, noting that well-designed, balanced IP frameworks are vital to enabling collaboration, attracting investment, and supporting inclusive growth. Their messages were complemented by insights from Takuya Yasui, Deputy Director of the Japan Patent Office, and Shuichiro Kitamura, President of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, who offered regional and nuanced perspectives on IP policymaking.

The Conference Program is available here.

The Biographies of the Conference Speakers are available here.

Testimonials of presenters and attendees are available here.

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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.