Kuala lumpur: ASEAN member states must strengthen the region’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem by fostering awareness and developing procedures that support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), said Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) chairman Riduan Rubin. He emphasized that a more coherent and transparent regional framework would help local innovators and small businesses effectively utilize strategic tools and IP resources, enabling seamless IP protection across ASEAN.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Riduan highlighted the need for ASEAN to enhance aspects of commercialisation, valuation, and integration of intellectual property within the regional sustainability agenda. He stated that this approach would ensure intellectual property serves as a source of economic value and investment while contributing to green innovation and balancing economic, social, and environmental progress. Riduan pointed out that although ASEAN is rich in creativity, its monetisation mechanisms remain fragmented, necessitating stronger valuation standards, innovation financing tools, and policies connecting IP creators to capital markets.
Riduan made these remarks while officiating at the 77th ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings, which also saw the presence of MyIPO director-general Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff and AWGIPC chair Suon Vichea. He emphasized that ASEAN is at a critical turning point, where intellectual property is evolving into a strategic economic asset capable of generating investment, enhancing productivity, and strengthening regional competitiveness.
He noted that MyIPO has already embarked on this path by developing stronger IP valuation frameworks, collaborating with experts and financial institutions, and supporting the integration of IP assets into business lending and investment assessments. Riduan reported that from 2019 until September 2025, MyIPO recorded 342,093 trademark filings, reflecting growing entrepreneurial confidence. Additionally, patent applications have surpassed 50,629, and industrial design filings have reached 12,788, underscoring Malaysia’s strength in manufacturing, innovation, and design.
Riduan also highlighted Malaysia’s expanding copyright voluntary notification system, with 55,352 notifications, as more digital creators, musicians, and content developers recognize the value of IP in the creative economy. He specifically mentioned Penang as a powerhouse of innovation, consistently recording among the highest IP filings in Malaysia, with 1,354 applications from January to September this year. This includes 130 patents and 82 industrial design applications, driven largely by the semiconductor and electrical and electronics sectors.