The Intellectual Property Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology met on July 28 to celebrate its 25^th anniversary of the establishment and receive the Labour Order, second class, in the presence of Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Van Phong.

After 25 years of establishment, the Intellectual Property Department has greatly contributed to building and perfecting legal documents on intellectual property, gradually meeting the country’s development requirements and international standards. The department has received tens of thousands of industrial property registrations and granted intellectual property certificates for domestic and foreign individuals and legal entities. It has closely worked with relevant agencies in the field of international cooperation, actively engaging in negotiations on multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, effectively implementing Vietnam’s international commitments, developing the intellectual property information system, socializing the protection of intellectual property right and raising public awareness about this field.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Phong said, “We are now better aware of the significance and necessity of protecting intellectual property rights in the process of national development and international integration. Fully and properly protecting intellectual property rights to inventions, designs and trademarks will make significant contributions to promoting research and creativity, encouraging healthy competition, attracting foreign investment, transferring technology and giving fresh impetus to socio-economic development.

However, the tasks assigned to the department after Vietnam’s entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are very challenging. Vietnam’s intellectual property activities would help raise the competitive capacity of the national economy while ensuring the effective implementation of its bilateral and multilateral commitments on intellectual property in the process of international integration.

To reach this goal, the Department should maintain close cooperation with related intellectual property agencies, perfect the legal system, ensure the quality and timely process of handling industrial property registrations and intensify professional training of staff involved in intellectual property protection.