About

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network is an initiative founded in 2018 by a group of academics working in Asia, Europe, and North America to provide a forum for discussions and academic 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 announce the Seventh IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Conference, which will be hosted in-person on 4-6 April 2025 at Waseda University, Faculty of Law in Tokyo, Japan.

The Seventh IPIRA Conference is organized by the IPIRA Network in cooperation with Waseda University, Faculty of Law, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Seventh IPIRA Conference is additionally supported by 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, distinguished academics from across Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas will serve on the Scientific Committee of the Conference, reflecting the IPIRA Network’s mission to promote worldwide interactions between IP and Innovation researchers.

 

Submissions

Academic researchers, including Ph.D. candidates, who are interested in presenting at the Seventh IPIRA Conference should email the following information in 2 separate Word files to IPResearchersAsia@gmail.com:

  • A Word file with a short abstract (of no more than 500 words), including the title of the paper that they would like to present. The submission should be in English.
  • A Word file with a short biography (of no more than 200 words) and a recent picture (in the same file). The submission should be in English.

Both files should include the name and academic affiliation of the applicant.

Please indicate “Submission to the Seventh IPIRA Conference” in the email subject line of your submission.

* For examples of abstract submissions, see here; for examples of bio submissions, see here. Please, follow the same format in your submissions.

The Organizers welcome submissions from senior, mid-career, and junior academics. They encourage submissions from scholars writing on IP and Innovation-related topics in Asian Law, Comparative Law, and International Law, as well as scholars interested in IP and Innovation from various interdisciplinary perspectives.

** Applicants must be affiliated with an academic institution to be accepted to the Conference.

*** Please note that, due to the generally large number of submissions received in past conferences, only one abstract can be submitted by each applicant. Submissions to present joint papers as 2 or more co-authors count as submissions for each coauthor. 

Applications from students, including LL.M. students, will not be accepted as the Conference is reserved for academics and Ph.D. candidates. Students can apply to attend the Conference should they be interested in attending.

There is no paper publication requirement to present at the Conference. Likewise, no publication of the papers presented is contemplated after the Seventh IPIRA Conference.

 

Deadlines for Submission and Notification of Acceptance

The deadline to submit a request to present is 15 December 2024. * Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

The Organizers will notify accepted participants by 6 January 2025.

Accepted participants must confirm their participation no later than 16 January 2025 to allow sufficient time for the final Conference’s program.

The final Conference’s program will be released around late February 2025.

 

Format and Time for Presentations

The Seventh IPIRA Conference will feature a combination of plenary and parallel sessions. The final schedule will be based on the number of submissions.

Presenters 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.

As in previous editions, the Seventh IPIRA Conference will feature keynote speakers and plenary panels with senior scholars, national policymakers, and officials from international organizations.

 

Conference Schedule

As mentioned, the Seventh IPIRA Conference will be an in-person event only.

The Conference will start on Friday, 4 April 2025, at approximately 3.30 p.m., and continue until approximately 6.30 p.m. A Welcome Reception will conclude the first day.

The Conference will resume on Saturday, 5 April 2025, at approximately 9 a.m., and continue until approximately 6.30 p.m. A Conference Dinner will conclude the second day.

The Conference will resume on Sunday, 6 April 2025, at approximately 9 a.m., and conclude around approximately 3.00 p.m.

 

Non-Presenting Attendees

The Organizers welcome non-presenting attendees to attend, in person, the Seventh IPIRA Conference in person. Requests will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Email your request to attend the Conference as a non-presenting attendee to IPResearchersAsia@gmail.com

 

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 days of 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. The Organizers will issue invitation letters to presenters and attendees who need letters to apply for the necessary visas in January 2025 after the submission selection process is completed. 

 

Travel Arrangements for Participants

Presenters and attendees are responsible for arranging travel to the Seventh IPIRA Conference.

The Organizers will offer suggestions for hotels near the university. Those hotels will be announced in November/December 2024. Participants can book a room with these hotels directly. In general, the Organizers encourage participants to check for affordable hotel rates at other hotels through online services.

 

Questions

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

 

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUBMISSION TO 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.