Business of IP Asia Forum 2023: Highlights and insights

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Business of IP Asia Forum 2023: Highlights and insights

Sponsored by

hktdc.jpg

Hong Kong’s latest annual gathering of intellectual property luminaries has been distilled into a video showcased by Managing IP, with several senior industry figures presenting their views on today’s key themes

The Business of IP Asia Forum attracts intellectual property (IP) professionals and business leaders from around the world to an event to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the field, and to explore collaboration possibilities. The above video provides a snapshot of the most recent forum, which took place in Hong Kong in December 2023.

The theme of the forum, which was jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, was “IP & Innovation: Steering New Economic Growth”. Indeed, as Asia continues its transition away from being a manufacturing powerhouse to an innovation hub, the importance of viewing intangible assets as a source of value cannot be over-stated.

More than 90 speakers shared their insights, with 2,500-plus attendees. The participants included senior IP figures from the WIPO, the CNIPA, the International Olympic Committee, top-tier law firms, governmental agencies, and multinationals such as Alibaba and Amazon, as well as entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and angel investors.

The latest developments in AI and biotechnology advancements were particularly hot topics at the thirteenth staging of the forum, as emerging technologies reshape the IP landscape and drive innovation across industries.

The forum included the following discussions:

  • Policy Dialogue – Powering Economic Growth through a Future-Ready IP Policy;

  • Plenary Session – Underpinning Brand Success: IP Strategies in the Digital Era;

  • Global Tech Summit – Generative AI;

  • ASEAN Session on Unlocking Trade Mark Value – Pioneering with Brand Licensing;

  • IPHatch Asia – Empowering Innovation and Entrepreneurship with IP; and

  • IP Collaboration and Competition in the Biomedical Industry in the Greater Bay Area.

The forum also offered dedicated networking time, and a recurring theme of the Business of IP Asia Forum is the power of collaboration in driving IP innovation. Partnerships between industry players, research institutions, and government bodies are fuelling groundbreaking discoveries and driving economic growth. As Daren Tang, the director general of WIPO, says in the video: "When you innovate, you need to collaborate."

Tang also notes that the programme of the event is expanding each year and has an increasingly vibrant nature, as reflected in the video. The next BIP Asia Forum, on December 5–6 2024, is eagerly anticipated as it will provide another opportunity to hear expert accounts of the latest IP developments and gain an insight into what the future holds.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

As the US reflects on 250 years of independence, patent lawyers say innovation is reshaping old hiring priorities, with firms seeking broader IP expertise over specialisation
The Nokia v Acer ruling in the UK suggests arbitration is moving from the sidelines towards the mainstream of global FRAND disputes - and could reshape forum strategy in the process
The Life Sciences Awards is thrilled to present the shortlist for the 2026 Americas Awards
From Türkiye to Poland and Nigeria, firms with deep local roots continue to dominate the top tier, proving that market expertise can outweigh international scale in many CEE, Middle Eastern and African jurisdictions
Former Hoyng Rokh partner Simon Dack takes a leading PMAC role as busy firms continue to jostle for position
Franck Fougere, founder and managing partner of Ananda IP in Thailand, describes how the firm has developed a reputation for patent work and why he believes IP practice is set to change
After two decades at Kass International, Geetha Kandiah discusses the lessons that shaped her career, building an inclusive regional firm, and AI opportunities
Manisha Singh of LexOrbis discusses the need for commercial alignment with clients and why IP lawyers need to have curiosity at their core
As firms expand into integrated IP services, recent hires show the model's appeal – but high-profile departures reveal how quickly questions of depth and durability can emerge
In-house counsel say private practice firms either aren’t conveying sustainability messaging or simply ‘don’t care’, but a mindful approach to the topic could swing pitches
Gift this article