HONG KONG, Dec 8, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The 10th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Design Centre, was successfully held online on 3 and 4 December. More than 60 international intellectual property (IP) experts and business leaders shared their insights on the latest industry trends and developments with more than 10,000 viewers from over 40 countries and regions joining the global live streaming.

BIP Asia Forum Online provided various interactive channels to connect speakers, panellists and audiences from different industries. Business leaders and IP experts gave valuable advice on expanding business networks, building opportunities and the significance of IP in the post-COVID-19 era. The forum offered an ideal platform for exchange of ideas and information, connecting entrepreneurs and adding value to their businesses during this challenging time.

'Dream of the Internet' helps entrepreneurs and start-ups share ideas

The keynote session at the online forum saw Yancy Strickler, Co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter, sharing his experience of creating Kickstarter, the famous global crowdfunding platform, and his subsequent journey. The first successfully funded project on the platform was "drawing for dollars", with other projects including Peloton, Cards against Humanity, Oculus Rift, Allbirds and more, many of which have become well-known brands.

Mr Strickler believes Kickstarter is a platform where entrepreneurs and start-ups can share ideas they are passionate about, and where creative projects can be opened up to the public. He called Kickstarter "a funnel for ideas" and said it was important to build trust between creators and the audience using the platform. Today, Kickstarter has become a facilitator in creating billions of dollars of profits and hundreds of thousands of jobs, opening a door to the public and the things they care about. He concluded that Kickstarter is the "dream of the Internet" as it fulfils the idea of what the World Wide Web aims to be.

Mr Stickler also shared his "bento" theory with the audience, explaining that he makes a bento plan every Sunday. It acts as a weekly plan that reminds him of his goals and identifies what is important. There are four spaces in the bento: now me, future me, now us, future us. He said the bento plan can help us to be actively aware of what are we going to do and what issues we need to prioritise in life. He said we should make decisions that can fulfil all the spaces in the bento – a way of planning that can help people to achieve their goals and understand the real values in life.

Also sharing during this session was Arata Oono, founder of Borderless, who is working on products related to motorcycles such as the development of a smart helmet. He explained that he ran a campaign on Kickstarter and was able to reach his goal within one day. He said that the pre-campaign is as important as the real campaign because it can build awareness and develop a community around the products. Mr Oono said crowdfunding is not about fundraising but more about developing a marketing platform that can help companies to grow.

Emile Chen, CMO & Co-founder, Origami Group, said Kickstarter is a platform that can help to generate awareness, find people with the same values and elicit valuable feedback. He had worries about people copying Origami's idea but said there will always be risks involved with getting to market. He pointed out that if someone else is trying to do what you are doing, it proves you are working on something worthwhile. Mr Chen also mentioned that the protection of IPs should be approached like good hygiene – it is something that has to be done, and the best protection is always to act fast and think about what you need to do next. He suggested that new start-ups should plan for a longer campaign period on the crowdfunding platform as it takes time for people to digest ideas and build trust with the company.

Experts and winners share on merits of IPHatch Hong Kong

A number of renowned and highly experienced entrepreneurs shared their ideas regarding IP in this rapidly changing new era. Jari Vaario, Head of Asia Patent Transactions & External Alliances, Nokia, said the company is finding unique new possibilities and innovations. He believed that the open-innovation competition IPHatch, details of which were announced during the forum, could provide unique innovation opportunities for start-ups. Mr Vaario said that IP matters are becoming more important in the new era as having an IP can be a way for start-ups to win against their competitors. Mr Vaario suggested start-ups should look into IP carefully as it takes time and money to secure a patent.

Yoshinori Nakagawa, Chief Intellectual Property Specialist, Panasonic Corporation, said that since the 2000s, Panasonic has shifted its focus to creating technology that can contribute to its future business. He said he was hoping to find good partners to tackle problems together through IPHatch. He mentioned two important roles of IP. First, it allows technologies to be organised in the patent portfolio, which helps maintain and update the newest technology and allow companies to understand their value through IP. Second, it protects the business and its technology assets as the patent gives exclusive rights to use that particular technology. That's why it is important for start-ups to get an initial patent.

Tony Chen, Business Development Director, Hong Kong X-Tech Startup Platform, talked about the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's policy and support schemes in relation to IP. He pointed out that IP and technologies are important for start-ups and that investors would look to back companies that had certain IP protections in place. He said that patents are important for start-ups in terms of attracting big customers and generating a good profit. He hopes that IP can become more accessible in the future, especially for start-ups.

Previous winners of IPHatch were on hand to share their insights. Aldous Ng, Co-founder and CEO, CU Coding Limited, said the company is working on network coding for the application of 5G technology in Hong Kong. He said that IPHatch is a good platform for start-ups to present their ideas and connect with more experienced partners, adding that persistence is important because innovation can be a lengthy process. Junho Cho, Chief Technology Officer, EC Bento Hong Kong Limited, developed intelligent vending machines with an aim to revolutionise the way hot food is delivered. He said that IP is important to his business as it helps to protect his innovations, while IPHatch allowed him to develop his networks. Charles Lo, Founder & Director, MAE Limited, developed an emotion tracking system that aims to improve customer service. He said there are two benefits of joining IPHatch, namely mentorship and media exposure. He explained that IP is a way for start-ups to gain creditability and make their company more attractive to investors.

Open innovation – creating new pathways for value creation

In the forum's plenary session, John Mulgrew, VP, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Intellectual Property Officer, Lenovo, talked about the "open innovation models' diagram", explaining that start-ups and other companies should absorb technology from the outside, listen to customer feedback and communicate more with suppliers. These interactions with external parties help to make better products and more effective marketing services. Mr Mulgrew introduced the concept of "inside-out innovation", which refers to creating something for a specific purpose, but which turns out to have broader application. He pointed out that there are various legal issues involved in collaborations such as access to IP, preserving differentiation and ownership. There are different kinds of collaboration too, including joint inventorship and overlapping development, while companies need to give serious consideration to the legal aspects.

Christina Petersson, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, Ericsson, said collaborations are helping to improve global standards, giving the example of Ericsson's collaboration with Chinese smart device manufacturer OPPO on 5G technologies. She said that innovative technology exchanges allow more parties to participate, while a licence helps to ensure there is no overlapping. She also shared on the interface between IP and competition law, explaining that more countries and regions now have competition laws in place, which helps to resolve arguments over competition and protect innovations and the creative industry. She said competition laws also encourage the smoother functioning of industry.

Beat Weibel, Chief IP Counsel and Group Senior Vice President, Siemens AG, said that as the world becomes more digital and interconnected, no company is in position to master all the technologies alone, and that success is all about collaboration and differentiation. He gave the example of Siemens' electronic motors, where all elements in the motors can communicate and interconnect. Mr Weinel said IP is essential, otherwise companies will lose their advantages and rights. IP rights define both the ownership and scope of intellectual achievement, and Mr Weibel said such rights are the only bridge to turn inventions into innovations. He concluded that there can be no success without collaboration.

Global Tech Summit – turning crisis into opportunity

Co-organised with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Global Tech Summit brought together technology leaders, scientists and researchers, including Professor Li Zexiang, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Prof Li, who is conducting research into robotics and automation, shared that building a company is very different from research because it also requires looking at customers' needs and doing marketing. He said that transferring good technology into products can take a long time – and it also requires time to educate customers.

Prof Li said there are many opportunities for innovation and technology under the pandemic due to changes in the way people live and work. New needs, problems and demands arise, creating opportunities for innovative services and products. He said the pandemic offers an important lesson – that the future will be uncertain and full of challenges. He observed that start-ups which survive the pandemic are usually calm, analysing the supply chain then forming a crisis plan. He advised incubators, accelerators and universities to hold more technology-related education and training programmes for new businesses, connecting them with the supply chain and preventing them from falling into business traps.

Prof Li said he is excited about the future prospects of technology because of rising demand in the consumer market. He suggested start-ups begin by looking into the needs of industry and customers and then work backwards. The key to success, he said, is to have a big idea and then balance the technology with design. He believes that technology companies are going to change our mode of living.

Exploring technological disruptions in healthcare amid the pandemic

The third and final session of the Global Tech Summit focused on recent technological developments in the healthcare industry. Alexander Ng, Vice President, Tencent Healthcare, talked about how Tencent is supporting the fight against COVID-19, explaining that the healthcare industry is very complicated as it involves many factors such as the needs of users, accurate information and trends in the pandemic. Tencent has put more resources into online consultations and online-to-offline connectivity through Weixin (WeChat). Online tools such as COVID-19 situation maps, trend analyses and a fever chatbot have also been developed, while existing tools were swiftly modified. Electronic health cards connect to COVID-19-related data to enable people to resume their daily activities, while electronic health insurance cards enable online healthcare transactions.

Other developments at Tencent include artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for physicians that can locate infected areas in the lungs through deep learning and also support the early triage of critically ill COVID-19 patients. The company now supports nearly 1.2 billion users and the company's COVID-19 update models have been used more than 12 billion times. Mr Ng said that Tencent aims to connect consumers to healthcare services in the future and is also developing a one-stop-shop health tool kit for Weixin users.

The forum is now available for viewing through video-on-demand on the BIP Asia Forum Online website.

Website
– Business of IP Asia Forum: http://bipasiaforum.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/37H7ktj

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org
Cathy Lee, Tel: +852 2584 4393, Email: cathy.wk.lee@hktdc.org

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Dec 3, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Addressing the importance of open innovation (an innovation management model that promotes collaboration with external parties) and collaboration in corporate development in times of change, the 10th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum) opened today and runs online until 4 December. Jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Design Centre, the event features more than 60 international intellectual property (IP) experts and business leaders sharing on the latest industry trends. Officiating at this morning's opening ceremony were Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA); and Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In a welcome message, HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong highlighted the BIP Asia Forum as a platform for IP professionals and business leaders to discuss the latest industry developments and explore opportunities for business collaboration. "The theme for this year's forum is: 'Open Innovation: Driving Collaboration in Times of Change', a topic that will no doubt be foremost on everyone's mind as the world economy is buffeted by the combined winds of the global pandemic and geopolitical tensions," she said. "The online format helps us take the event beyond the limitations of a physical location to connect global participants to a world of industry insights and expertise."

Open innovation – helping to drive collaboration in challenging times

Collaboration is essential during these challenging times, with many businesses having to make significant changes in order to survive. Addressing this trend, this morning's keynote session featured a discussion by industry leaders on how open innovation can help businesses leverage external resources, solve complex problems and generate greater business value. Yancey Strickler, Co-founder and Former CEO of Kickstarter, shared his experience in creating Kickstarter, a global crowdfunding platform that has brought innovators together and created value through innovation and partnerships. The session also welcomed Arata Oono, founder of Borderless, and Emile Chan, CMO and Co-founder of Origami Group, as panellists.

Today's programme concluded with the much-anticipated plenary session, where IP leaders from multinational corporations discussed models for collaboration between enterprises. Given that open innovation creates new pathways for value creation and unleashes the full potential of IP while establishing new ways of collaboration between nations, industries or individuals, it has become a vital business strategy amid increasingly fierce global competition. Speakers at the plenary, which ran on the theme "Creating IP Value through Collaboration", included Christina Petersson, Chief Intellectual Property Officer of Ericsson; Beat Weibel, Chief IP Counsel and Group Senior Vice President of Siemens AG; and John Mulgrew, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Officer of Lenovo.

A breakout session held today focused on the latest IP development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, whose development as a major IP trading hub is attracting considerable attention. An innovation and technology engine, the Greater Bay Area has quickly become a breeding ground for innovative ideas and inventions, with much IP trading involved. Co-organised with the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration) and the Guangzhou Development District Intellectual Property Association, the session featured speakers from WeRide, Guangzhou IP Exchange, Macau University of Science and Technology, Exponent Science and Technology Consulting, and Vobile Group Limited.

IPHatch Hong Kong welcomes innovative start-ups

Details of the eagerly awaited open-innovation competition, IPHatch Hong Kong, were announced today. At a session with the theme "Supercharging Innovation for Impact", renowned IP experts, representatives of venture capital funds and past IPHatch winners shared on ways to enhance value and realise growth potential. Speakers included Jason Loh, founder and CEO of Piece Future; Jari Vaario, Head of Asia Patent Transactions and External Alliances of Nokia Technologies; Yoshinori Nakagawa, Chief Intellectual Property Specialist of Panasonic Corporation; and Tony Chen, Business Development Director of Hong Kong's X-Tech Startup Platform.

The 2020 competition will focus on digitalisation, smart city development and the Internet of Things, with participating start-ups encouraged to unleash their creativity and expand existing patented technologies to new business areas through swift IP commercialisation.

Global Tech Summit opens tomorrow to examine technological disruptions

The protection of IP is essential in promoting creativity and technological innovation. This subject will be addressed in tomorrow morning's Global Tech Summit, which will be split into three sessions, each featuring renowned speakers. In the first session, Li Zexiang, Professor of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, will speak on disruption as the "new normal". In the second session, Aldous Ng, CEO of CU Coding Limited, will be joined by Yongping Zheng, Co-founder and Technical Advisor of Telefield Medical Imaging Limited, and Dennis Cheung, Associate Director of Teksbotics (Asia) Limited, to speak about the new wave of talent in Hong Kong's technology sector.

In the third and final session of the summit, Alexander Ng, Vice President of Tencent Healthcare, and Gary Chan, Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, will explore technological disruptions in the healthcare industry amid the global pandemic. While the pandemic has created untold disruption in its own right, it has also been the catalyst for a new wave of revolutionary technologies. The pioneers taking part in the session will discuss the emerging technologies that are likely to reshape economies and redefine industries.

Several concurrent breakout sessions will be held on the second day of the forum, including the IP Market and Industry Insights session co-organised with China Daily. Expert speakers including Kevin Lee, founder and CEO of Redspots Creative (HK) Company Limited, Catherine Liu, Research Director of EntGroup Solution Centre, Beijing EntGroup Century Data Technology Co, Ltd., Yang Xiaoxuan, Vice President of iQIYI, and Sze Yan Ngai, Founder and Chairman of Gameone Holdings Limited, will examine IP strategies in the age of "digital ambassadors", where virtual idols are gaining momentum and offering tremendous business opportunities – with a concurrent rise in related IP issues.

IP disputes can be hard to resolve, often involving complex technical issues and multiple jurisdictions – and the pandemic outbreak has created the need for more innovative approaches to dispute resolution. Co-organised with the Department of Justice of the HKSAR, tomorrow afternoon's session on IP legal tips, titled "Hong Kong's Unique Role in IP Creation, Protection, Enforcement and Dispute Resolution in the GBA and Beyond", will explore how Hong Kong can capitalise on its geographical advantage and professional expertise to create a solid foundation for IP businesses to pursue opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. It will also examine innovative approaches to dispute resolution such as online dispute resolution. Speakers including Charmaine Koo, Partner of Messrs. Deacons and Chairman of Licensing Executive Society China, Hong Kong Sub-Chapter; Winnie Tam, Chairman of the Communication Authority and Committee on Intellectual Property, Hong Kong Bar Association; and Thomas So, Chair of eBRAM Centre, will offer insights into intellectual property creation, protection and arbitration.

As the world looks to recover from the global pandemic, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders in the technology ecosystem will become more important than ever. The essential role of collaboration in technological advancement and the exceptional value of partnerships will be explored at a session titled "The Invincible Bond of Technology and Client Collaboration", co-organised with the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI). Speakers including Victor Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Bridge AI; Andy Ho, Managing Director of Nexplore HK; Albert Lo, Chief Architect of Nova Credit Limited; and Daniel Au, Chief Executive Officer of Tectonic Technology Innovation Company Limited, will share insights on how collaboration has helped them solve industry pain points and create new business opportunities.

InspoTalk roundtable offers interactive IP-related discussions

The BIP Asia Forum was preceded by a two-day IP Manager Training Programme, jointly organised by the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR and the HKTDC. The programme introduced the fundamentals of IP, enabling participants to better understand the rights of IP owners and users and enhancing their ability to manage and protect IP rights within their enterprise. Complementing the forum's main programme, a new session called InspoTalk was launched yesterday, at which industry experts held in-depth interactive discussions with participants on various IP-related topics, such as the challenges and opportunities resulting from the pandemic and IP strategies for working with social media influencers.

Website
– Business of IP Asia Forum: http://bipasiaforum.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3qmoCUV

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Cathy Lee, Tel: +852 2584 4393, Email: cathy.wk.lee@hktdc.org

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com