Brunei Darussalam celebrated World Intellectual Property Day 2024 on 28 November with the theme “IP and the SDGs: Building Our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity.”
The event was organised by the Brunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) and Datastream Digital Sendirian Berhad (DST).
In her keynote address, Attorney General and Registrar of Trade Marks, Patents, and Industrial Designs Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Nor Hashimah Haji Mohammed Taib emphasised intellectual property as a key driver of sustainable development, noting its critical role in fostering innovation and addressing global challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Highlights included IP’s contributions to agriculture (SDG 2 and SDG 12), education (SDG 4), clean energy (SDG 7), and climate action (SDG 13).
On his part, Chief Executive Officer of DST Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni highlighted the importance of digital innovation.
“By embracing the principles of the Global Innovation Index and the SDGs, we can position ourselves to become catalysts for our Digital Economy by investing in innovative digital infrastructure and human capital, together we can create a vibrant and sustainable digital future,” he said.
The event featured prize presentations for BruIPO’s National Poster Making and DST Innovation Awards. It also included a keynote presentation by an independent economic consultant on “IP and Development: Building Our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity” and a forum on “Innovating for a Sustainable Future: How IP Drives Progress Across the SDGs”. Panelists included experts from BruIPO, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the Ministry of Education, and Brunei Innovation Lab.
Guest speakers from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) delivered insightful presentations on “Understanding the Link Between IP and SDGs” and “Innovation with Amazon’s Working Backwards Process.”
The event gathered some 200 participants from government, academia, businesses, and the legal sector, reinforcing BruIPO and DST’s shared commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth for Brunei Darussalam and beyond.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
