About

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network is an Academic Organization founded in 2018 to provide a platform for discussions and exchanges on 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 foster a robust research community centered on IP and Innovation-related themes and to create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration among IP experts worldwide. 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 2019, the IPIRA Network has organized seven Annual Conferences. The First IPIRA Conference was hosted in Malaysia in 2019, while 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 then 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 Eighth IPIRA Conference will be hosted again in Singapore at the Singapore University of Social Sciences during the last week of January 2026. More information and the Call for Papers will be announced around mid-August 2025. 

Starting in 2021, the IPIRA Network has also organized the IPIRA Colloquium to promote the publication of Asian-focused scholarship among junior researchers.  The first several editions of the IPIRA Colloquium were held online, while the 2025 IPIRA Colloquium will be hosted in person in late August 2025.

Annual Conference

The IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Network hosted the Eighth IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia (IPIRA) Conference on 29-30 January 2026 at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) in Singapore.

The Eighth IPIRA Conference was organized in cooperation with Singapore University of Social Sciences and the hosts 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; the Faculty of Law, Waseda University; Texas A&M University School of Law; and the Faculty of Law, University of Geneva.

The Conference was also supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), and high-level officials from each of these institutions delivered keynote addresses at the Conference. Notably, Daren Tang, WIPO’s Director General, highlighted WIPO’s work to promote innovation and the role of academics in fostering robust debates and evidence-based discussions in the IP field. Johanna Hill, WTO’s Deputy Director General, emphasized the relationship between global trade, IP, and innovation, and highlighted Singapore as a global standard in this respect.  Tan Kong Hwee, IPOS’s Chief Executive, illustrated to the audience Singapore’s current IP strategy and the strong links between IP and development for Singapore, ASEAN, and Asia in general.  In addition, the Conference was graced by high-level remarks by Edwin Tong SC, the Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs of Singapore.

Over the two days of the Conference, more than 300 presenters and attendees gathered to discuss recent IP and Innovation developments. The Conference featured 40 parallel sessions spanning eight sessions, each featuring seven thematic tracks. Presenters addressed key issues, including the impact of artificial intelligence on IP frameworks and sustainability, IP commercialization, patent and trade secret protection, and international trade agreements.

The Full Program of the Conference is available here

For the List of Speakers and their biographies, see here

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership

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 can apply to become members of the IPIRA Network. We also welcome registrations from public officials and members of the judiciary.

In general, private practitioners and those working in-house can apply to become members 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 become Members of the IPIRA Network, but are welcome to attend the Annual Conference.

*To date, there are no costs associated with becoming a member of the IPIRA Network. We also do not charge annual fees to our members. This is possible thanks to the work of many volunteers who contribute their time and services to the Network’s activities.   

If you are interested in becoming a member of the IPIRA Network, fill out the form available below. The IPIRA Network Secretariat maintains a list of all the members, which is regularly updated. For any questions, email us at IPResearchersAsia@gmail.com

 

Join the IP & Innovation Researchers of Asia Network

Please note that, by requesting to join the IPIRA Network and by filling out the above form with your information and contact details, you agree to receive 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 the comment box.