Hanoi (VNA) - Start-ups must focus on intellectual propertythat can enhance their competitiveness, experts said.
Tran Le Hong, chief of the secretariat of the IntellectualProperty Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said at aconference on February 6 that intellectual property was an important asset tostart-ups.
But many start-ups seem unaware of intellectual property andhave not invested adequate amount of time, effort and money in it todevelop their brands from the beginning.
The inadequate investment in intellectual property may result indisputes and lawsuits, which can hinder the development of start-ups, Hongsaid.
He said enhancing awareness and knowledge about innovation andintellectual property must start from universities and colleges.
According to Bui Anh Tuan, principal of the Foreign TradeUniversity, many universities now pay special attention to enhancingstudents’ knowledge about intellectual property, together with the foundationof start-up clubs, to promote a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship aswell as contribute to the development of the national start-up ecosystem.
Tran Thi Tam, CEO of IPCom, said there was a huge demand forbasic knowledge about innovation and intellectual property of start-ups.
Experts at the conference said it was necessary to enhance thecooperation of universities, communication agencies and businesses to raiseawareness on the matter.
At the conference, a project on enhancing students’ andstart-ups’ awareness of innovation and intellectual property was officiallykicked off, which will be jointly implemented by IPCom, VietnamPlus online newspaperunder the Vietnam News Agency, and Foreign Trade University.
Phan Ngan Son, deputydirector of the Intellectual Property Department, said the project was criticalto raising awareness on intellectual property, which was important in rapideconomic integration.-VNA