The Law and Technology Centre of the Faculty organized a fireside chat with Mr Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO on IP & Innovation at HKU in the afternoon of December 7, 2023. The event; which was co-hosted by Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Knowledge Exchange Office, Techno-Entrepreneurship Core, HKU and International Intellectual Property Commercialization Council; marked a significant milestone in the realm of intellectual property (IP) and innovation, as it gathered distinguished speakers and entrepreneurs from various sectors to discuss the evolving landscape of IP in Hong Kong and beyond.

The event was coordinated and moderated by Dr Yahong Li, Associate Professor of HKU Faculty of Law and Executive Committee Member of International Association for Advancement of Teaching and Research of Intellectual Property (ATRIP).

Professor Hualing Fu, Dean of HKU Faculty of Law, opened the event with an insightful address on Hong Kong’s role in innovation, emphasized the increasing demand for IP talents in Hong Kong, and outlined the Faculty’s plans to enhance IP education.

Mr Thomas Tsang, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department, then highlighted the role of higher education in knowledge creation and technology transfer, referencing Hong Kong’s performance in the WIPO’s innovation indicators and Hong Kong Patent Landscape Report.

Mr Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, in his keynote speech, elaborated on WIPO’s mission in facilitating IP exchange globally, “Hong Kong has the chance to boost its IP system within its mature ecosystem of finance, technology, and international trade.”, outlining three key trends in intellectual property: geographical shifts in IP contributions, the impact of digital technologies on IP systems, and the challenges to multilateralism. He stressed the importance of an inclusive IP system that empowers diverse groups, including women, youths, SMEs, the Global South, and others.

After Mr Bill Wong from Fudan University and Mr Keng Tiong Tan from HKU TTO shared their views and experiences, innovators from Oncoimmunostics Limited (Professor Nancy Man), Dentomi Limited (Mr Reinhard Chao), Saint Novel Biotech Limited (Ms Zhuoxuan Li), and Fano Lab Limited (Dr Miles Wen) showcased their groundbreaking technologies in various fields, demonstrating the practical application of IP in fostering innovation.

Professor Anderson Shum, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), concluded the event by emphasizing the university’s commitment to bridge IP systems across jurisdictions and fostering innovative ideas across disciplines and generations.