About

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network is an initiative aimed at providing a forum for teachers and researchers studying and writing on Intellectual Property (IP) and Innovation related topics in and beyond Asia.

The mission of the IPIRA Network is to facilitate the creation of a community of teachers and researchers by connecting them and providing opportunities for collaborations; to assist researchers from Asia, and those interested in Asian Law, International Law, and Comparative Law to engage in research projects related to IP and Innovation topics; to support and promote the research of young scholars in Asia and beyond; to facilitate the collaboration between academics and researchers interested in IP and Innovation-related topics with international organizations, national governments, and NGOs in the region; to promote policy-oriented discussion involving officials and stakeholders in Asia and beyond, with a focus on innovation, sustainable development, and economic growth.

The activities of the IPIRA Network include organizing the Annual IP & Innovation Researchers Asia (IPIRA) Conference in collaboration with universities in Asia and beyond Asia and international organizations; organizing the IPIRA Online Colloquium for junior researchers; facilitating the study of Comparative Law and Asian Law by supporting workshops and events on topics of national and regional interest.

The First IPIRA Conference was held in January 2019 at the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).  The Second IPIRA Conference was held in February 2020 at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia.  The Third IPIRA Conference was held Online in March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fourth IPIRA Conference was also held online in February 2022. The Fifth IPIRA Conference was held both in person and online at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in March 2023 in Singapore. The Sixth IPIRA Conference was hosted in January 2024 at the Foreign Trade University in Vietnam,

At this time, the IPIRA Network is planning the Seventh IPIRA Conference for 2025. Information regarding the venue and the dates will be announced in September 2024.

Annual Conference

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network organized the Sixth IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Conference on 18-19 January 2024 at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

The Sixth IPIRA Conference was organized with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia; Division of Business Law, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia; Texas A&M University School of Law, and the Faculty of Law, University of Geneva. A group of distinguished academics from institutions across Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas again served on the Scientific Committee of the Conference.

The Conference featured three keynote presentations. Nguyen Van Bay, Deputy Director General of the IP Office of Viet Nam discussed the current IP System of Viet Nam and the office’s work toward future policy options. Hasan Kleib, WIPO Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector, focused on WIPO capacity building and knowledge transfer. Johanna Hill, WTO Deputy Director General, highlighted the need to rethink the links between trade, development, and the IP system today.

During the following two days, the Conference featured over 150 paper presentations across various parallel sessions where presenters focused on various topics, including IP and health care, sustainability, artificial intelligence, patents, biotechnology, geographical indications, and IP management. The Conference also featured two plenary sessions. The first plenary session focused on how IP should be rethought in a digital world, while the second focused on the role of IP in promoting, but at times also hindering, sustainability and a circular economy. Overall, the conference saw over 250 participants, both presenters and attendees.

For the Conference program, click here.

For the biographies of the Conference’s Presenters, click here.

For testimonials of presenters and attendees, click here.

For featured news, see:

 

 

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.