The Department of Intellectual Property (DoIP) in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) organized National Conference on Enabling Innovative Environment to Strengthen Business Competitiveness through Brands and Designs on 22 November 2019 in Thimphu. Over 70 entrepreneurs participating in the Third Annual Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) Fair, organized by the Department of Cottage and Small Industries (DCSI), attended the Conference.
The objective of the conference is to impart the understanding on intellectual property (IP) and strengthening business competitiveness though the use of IP such as brands and designs to the established and potential Bhutanese entrepreneurs participating in the Third Annual CSI Fair who are involved in promoting and diversifying the locally made products. International consultant Mr. Giulio Zanetti and Mr. Selahuddin Yu Hashim, experts in IP and Branding made presentations covering topics on the essence of branding, design, trademark, packaging and digital marketing among others.
The National Conference was organized as a part of five-year project between the DoIP and WIPO titled Enabling Innovative Environment to Strengthen Business Competitiveness through Brands and Designs, which was commenced with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Government of Bhutan and WIPO. The overall goal of the project is to empower stakeholders in Bhutan to effectively use the IP and IP system, specifically in the area of trademark and industrial design, to increase their business competitiveness. The Project will identify locally made Bhutanese products potential for branding and design, and constitute a Branding Bureau to guide and assist in branding and designing of selected products.