Global Patent Filings See Fastest Growth in 18 Years

A new WIPO report shows that in 2012 global patent filings increased at their strongest rate in nearly two decades as industrial-design registration notched its best-ever rate of growth. Intellectual property (IP) filings have sharply rebounded since a 2009 decline at the height of the financial crisis.

Patent filings worldwide grew by 9.2% in 2012, representing the fastest growth recorded in the past 18 years. Following a 3.9% decrease in 2009, patent filings worldwide have now rebounded strongly, with accelerating growth rates – 7.6% in 2010, 8.1% in 2011 and 9.2% in 2012. This was mainly due to strong growth in filings at SIPO. The estimated 2.35 million patent filings worldwide in 2012 consisted of 1.51 million filed by residents and 830,000 by non-residents.

Among the top 20 IP offices, SIPO (+24%) saw the fastest growth in filings in 2012, followed by the offices of New Zealand (+14.3%), Mexico (+9%), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO, +7.8%), and the Russian Federation (+6.8%). Several offices of middle-income countries, such as Brazil (+5.1%), India (+3.9%) and South Africa (+2.7%), also reported growth in filings.

Patent filings by field of technology differ across origins. Residents of Israel and the US filed a high share of their applications in the computer and medical technologies fields. Applications filed by residents of Belgium, India and Switzerland were more concentrated in the organic fine chemistry field. Resident of Brazil filed a high share of applications in basic materials chemistry, while China and the Russian Federation focused their filings on material metallurgy technologies. In contrast, a higher share of applications filed by residents of Japan, Singapore and the Republic of Korea fell within the field of semiconductors. Residents of European countries such as France, Germany and Sweden focused their filings on transport-related technologies.

Patent filings for energy-related technologies grew by 5.3% in 2012. Applications filed by residents of China Hong Kong (SAR), Israel and Switzerland were highly concentrated in solar energy, while those of Finland, Japan and the UK had higher shares dedicated to fuel cell technology. - WIPO

Celebrating Italy’s design excellence

“Italy’s people have long been admired for the everyday creative expression that contributes to la dolce vita. This includes a culture of excellence in design that applies aesthetic considerations to everyday objects, taking them from the prosaic to the sublime,” said WIPO Director General Francis Gurry in his introductory message in the exhibition’s Italian Design Innovation – ADI Design Index 2012 catalogue.

Alessandro Sarfatti, former CEO of Luceplan, attributed the success of Italian design to the “fantastic alchemy” that exists between entrepreneurs, designers and suppliers. “These three actors have made Italian design what it is today,” he said. “The designer brings into the company his vision of the world, his ideas and then it is up to the company to stick to the project and realize it,” he said pointing to his experience in developing the iconic “Hope” lamp. Built around the idea of the lighthouse lamp developed by the 19th century French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel, the lamp is the product of a lengthy iterative process. After months of experimentation, the mutual trust that existed between the company and the designers, made it possible to overcome design challenges and to produce a high quality, commercially successful product.

The evolving business landscape, however, is putting this traditional business model and these traditional relationships under threat. “The challenge for designers today is to rebuild these relationships and to reignite the creative process within companies,” said Valentina Downey who through her LAB.BRAIN.LAB project works with companies to cultivate the proactive and strategic use of design to boost performance. - WIPO Magazine

Copyright Contributes $1 Trillion to the U.S. Economy

Copyright industries added over $1 trillion in value to the U.S. economy in a single year, accounting for almost 6.5% of the total U.S. GDP, according to a new study released today by the International Intellectual Property Alliance® (IIPA®). The study tracks the economic impact and contributions of U.S. industries creating, producing, distributing, broadcasting or exhibiting copyright materials, including computer software, videogames, books, newspapers, periodicals and journals, motion pictures, music, and radio and television programming.

The study, Copyright Industries in the U.S. Economy: The 2013 Report, was prepared by Stephen E. Siwek of Economists Incorporated for the IIPA, and updates 13 previous studies. It is based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and other government agencies and it demonstrates the vibrancy of copyright and creativity as an engine for growth for the U.S. economy. In reaction to the study, Representative Judy Chu, co-chair of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus, said: “This study demonstrates that not only do U.S. copyright industries develop the creative works that inspire and entertain so many, they also provide high paying jobs and spur economic activity, consistently contributing to a trade surplus and adding substantial value to our GDP."- IIPA

Remuneration in IPR-intensive Industries is More Than 40% Higher

The European Commission today welcomed the publication of a study on Intellectual Property Rights, which was carried out jointly by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM). This study, “Intellectual Property Rights intensive industries: contribution to economic performance and employment in Europe” (September 2013), measures the importance of Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the EU economy. Key findings of the study are that about 39% of total economic activity in the EU (worth some €4.7 trillion annually) is generated by IPR-intensive industries, and approximately 26% of all employment in the EU (56 million jobs) is provided directly by these industries, while a further 9% of jobs in the EU stems indirectly from IPR-intensive industries.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: "I am convinced that intellectual property rights play a hugely important role in stimulating innovation and creativity. What this study shows us is that the use of intellectual property rights in the economy is ubiquitous: from high-tech industries to manufacturers of sports goods, toys and computer games, all are making intensive use of not just one, but often several types of intellectual property rights.”

Benoît Battistelli, President of the European Patent Office (EPO) said: "This report shows that the benefit of patents and other IPRs is not just economic theory. For innovative companies intangible assets have become extremely important. Especially for SMEs, but also research centres and universities, patents often open the door to capital and business partners. In order to remain competitive in the global economy, Europe needs to encourage even further the development and use of new technology and innovations."

António Campinos, President of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) said: “This study is the result of a detailed collaboration between experts drawn from different agencies and countries, using a transparent and replicable methodology. It tackles the fundamental question of the extent to which IPR-related industries matter to jobs, GDP and trade in the EU. We now have a clear answer. They do matter, they matter a lot.”

The study focuses on the EU economy and considers IPR-intensive industries as either those that register more Intellectual Property Rights per employee than other industries, or those where the use of IPR is an intrinsic characteristic of the industry’s activity. These industries are selected at EU-level, i.e. using EU-wide measures of IPR intensity.

The study also finds that:

Average remuneration in IPR-intensive industries is more than 40% higher than in other industries;

Examples of IPR-intensive industries include:

the manufacture of power-driven hand tools (patents);

the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products (trademarks);

the manufacture of watches and clocks (designs);

book publishing (copyright); and

operation of dairies and cheese making (geographical indications).

Hundreds of industries, as diverse as services activities related to financial services and insurance, advertising agencies, ice cream manufacture, wallpaper manufacture, wine production, electric lighting and domestic appliances, satellite telecommunications, and extraction of oil and gas are also all IPR-intensive, and many make simultaneous use of more than one IP right.

A list of all IPR-intensive industries is included in the Appendix to the report.

This study comes on foot of a broadly similar exercise carried out in 2012 by the US Patent and Trademark Office together with the Economics and Statistics Administration, which reached comparable findings for the US economy as the OHIM/EPO study has done for the EU economy. - European Commission

Geographic​al Indication Regulation​s 2000 (Amendment 2013)

The Geographical Indication Regulations 2000 (Amendment 2013) was amended on 15th July 2013. A notice was issued by the Registrar of Geographical Indications to include provisions regarding eligibility, enrolment and renewal of geographical agent; renewal of registered geographical indications; and reinstatement of registered geographical indications. Hence, IP practitioners interested in providing service as geographical indication agent will have to be registered with the Registry as an agent. Forms and fees involved is also updated. The notice of amendment is available at www.myipo.gov.my

"Learn the PCT" Video Series

Learn the PCT is a series of 29 short videos (approximately 15 minutes each) presented by Matthias Reischle, Deputy Director, PCT Legal Division, WIPO. The series is designed to provide a basic introduction to important aspects and issues in the international phase and national phase of PCT processing.

This series closely follows material covered during basic PCT training seminars and will be particularly useful for those who have not attended such seminars in person, for small and medium-sized enterprises, and for PCT users and potential users in developing and least-developed countries.

The total running time for the series is six hours and 15 minutes. - WIPO

The History of Logo Design

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

How Startup Valuation Works –A Way To Measure a Company’s Potential

by annavital.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

MIPA Trademark Symposium

MIPA is organising a Trademark Symposium titled 'Malaysian Landscape for Trademark Evolution' on 25/07/2013.

This Symposium brings together industry experts from various backgrounds such as an IP owner, an IP and Trademark agent and the head of a Trademark section.

Aimed at Entrepreneurs, Investors, IP Agents, Legal Experts, Government Agencies and Corporates with IP Trademarks & Patents, this Symposium provides the perfect platform for IP owners and IP practitioners to discuss issues related to trademark branding.

Various topics will be discussed during this half-day Symposium including the dilemma of uniqueness for trademark and branding, acceptable and unacceptable trademarks and the challenges faced by brand owners. I am invited as one of the speaker.

For more information, follow this link

Apple, Amazon end 'app store' lawsuit

Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc have ended their lawsuit over who has the right to use the "app store" name, clearing the way for both companies to use it.

U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, on Tuesday ordered that the case be dismissed at the companies' request, averting a trial that had been scheduled for August 19.

This came after Apple issued to Amazon a covenant not to sue over the online retailer's use of the term, eliminating the need for Amazon to pursue a counterclaim seeking permission.

Apple began selling applications for mobile devices via its App Store service in July 2008. Amazon launched Amazon Appstore for Android in March 2011. Apple began the lawsuit that month.

"We no longer see a need to pursue our case," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said. "With more than 900,000 apps and 50 billion downloads, customers know where they can purchase their favorite apps."

Martin Glick, a lawyer for Amazon, said in an interview, "This was a decision by Apple to unilaterally abandon the case, and leave Amazon free to use 'appstore.'"

"We're gratified that the court has conclusively dismissed this case," Amazon spokeswoman Mary Osako said. "We look forward to continuing our focus on delivering the best possible appstore experience to customers and developers."

In its lawsuit alleging trademark violations and false advertising, Apple accused Amazon of misusing the "app store" name in connection with the sales of apps for Android devices and the Kindle Fire, a tablet that competes with Apple's iPad.

Amazon countered that the term "app store" had become so generic that using it would not mislead customers.

It said in a court filing that even Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook had used the term generically, in discussing "the number of app stores out there," while his predecessor Steve Jobs had talked about the "four app stores on Android." - Reuters

Expedited Examination Experience

Since 2009, accelerated examination under the various programs has been requested for over 5,000 patent applications. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) received the highest number of requests (3,533) followed by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), with 776, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). USPTO stop receiving temporarily after 3500 applications were reached.

The evidence shows that fast-track procedures reduce the time from filing to grant by several years compared to ordinary examination. The time to grant is cut by between 42 percent and 75 percent across fast-track programs, with the shortest time to grant delivered by the UK.

For most programs, a very small share of eligible patent applications was submitted under the accelerated procedures: between one and two percent in Australia, Canada, Japan and the ROK. However, percentages were substantially higher in the UK (20%), Israel (13%) and the US (8%).

This low participation rate may seem surprising as a fast-track examination process offers several advantages, such as facilitating licensing and making it easier to raise private capital and enforce a granted right against infringers.

There are, however, some disadvantages in accelerating the granting of patents. To begin with, accelerated examination may increase costs for patent applicants, especially where they are required to conduct a search report on the prior art (for example, at the JPO) and submit comments that could have ramifications in litigation.

Another problem with fast-track programs is the wide variability in their rules — both in terms of eligibility and formal process requirements. Applicants seeking to participate in several of the programs must analyze a number of different rules, determine whether their invention meets each program’s eligibility requirements, and draft different claim sets and arguments for each program. As a result, deciding whether and how to use such programs can be costly and time-consuming.

Moreover, it is not always in the applicant’s best interest to have a patent published or granted as soon as possible. Although inventors may want to file a first (“priority”) application right away (because, until they do, they have nothing but secrecy to protect them from imitators), they may also have legitimate reasons for delaying the grant of a patent.

These disadvantages explain why only a small percentage of eligible patent applications are submitted to fast-track programs. Once a patent application is filed, infringers will be opposed on the basis of the application date and not the grant date. Most applicants therefore have an incentive to wait until the examination is conducted under the regular procedure. As a consequence, patent applicants would only have an interest in using fast-track programs under specific circumstances (such as suspicion of infringement, to raise capital or to secure commercial partnerships).

An important advantage of a long examination period is that it delays the costs associated with the grant of the patent. It also gives patent applicants time to determine whether the patent will be commercially viable before requesting the grant in the first place.

Another major benefit of delayed examination is that it allows applicants to adjust the patent application – in particular the list of claims – during the examination process. If granted too early, the claims of the patent might not perfectly match the final version of the invention, thus facilitating circumvention.

Since patent applications must be disclosed when the patent is granted, an early grant occurring before the end of the 18-month period after which patent applications are normally published could increase the risk of competitors being able to quickly design competing technology. Our interviews with patent attorneys revealed, however, that this is unlikely to be an issue in practice. Most requests for accelerated examination occur before this 18-month period – a further indication that early publication is not viewed as a serious issue by applicants. - WIPO

Industrial Design (Amendment​) Act and Regulations 2013

MyIPO has provided Notice No 1/2013 and Notice 2/2013 that the Industrial Design (Amendment) Act 2013 and Industrial Design (Amendment) Regulations 2013 will take effect on 1 July 2013. The Notices, Act and Regulations are available on www.myipo.gov.my

Note that the Regulations is available in Notice 1/2013; the link on the home page is broken, at this moment.

WIPO GREEN

WIPO, together with industry partners, has launched the pilot version of a new platform known as “WIPO GREEN”, which seeks to accelerate the development and deployment of green technologies, and thereby facilitate their global dissemination.

WIPO GREEN is designed to improve the knowledge of and access to existing green technologies (or environmentally sound technologies (ESTs)), and help in the search for solutions to specific climate change-related technology challenges, as well as providing additional marketing and partnership opportunities. It achieves this by matching the available technologies, know‑how and expertise of “technology providers” with the expressed needs of “technology seekers”, although its role does not extend to establishing specific agreements for technology transfer – this would be the subject of individually negotiated agreements between the parties concerned, allowing for greater flexibility in business decisions.

WIPO GREEN includes two components:

(1) The WIPO GREEN database which users can access to:
•make available their green technologies for licensing or partnership agreements;
•enter their technology needs;
•search for technologies and needs.


(2) The WIPO GREEN network to:
•obtain advice and services to assist transactions;
•connect with experts worldwide from industry, university, governments, intergovernmental organizations and non‑governmental organizations.


WIPO GREEN’s impact in terms of supporting the exchange and broad dissemination of ESTs hinges, to a great extent, on the active participation of stakeholders, which WIPO would like to encourage. The greater the number of users of the platform there are, the greater will be the chances of successfully matching technology providers with technology seekers to resolve environmental challenges. Please note that use of the WIPO GREEN platform is free of charge.

For further information on this new development, see the WIPO GREEN page on the WIPO website at:

https://www3.wipo.int/wipogreen/en/about/

as well as the article entitled “WIPO GREEN: Facilitating Dissemination of Green Technology” which was published in the June 2012 issue of the WIPO Magazine at:

http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2012/03/article_0006.html

It is recalled that WIPO has also developed the “IPC Green Inventory,” an on-line tool linked to the International Patent Classification (IPC) system to facilitate searches for patent information relating to ESTs. It is hyperlinked to the PATENTSCOPE Search System to automatically search and display all “green” international applications filed under the PCT. For further information on IPC Green Inventory, see PCT Newsletter No. 10/2010, page 9. - WIPO

Internatio​nal Survey on Dispute Resolution in Technology Transactio​ns

The Report presenting the Results of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center International Survey on Dispute Resolution in Technology Transactions is available at: http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/center/survey/results.html

The Survey was developed with the support of a number of associations in the area of intellectual property, including the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), the Fédération Internationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (FICPI) and the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) and the help of the WIPO Economics and Statistics Division.

The Survey was distributed to companies, research organizations, universities, government bodies, law firms, individuals and other entities involved in technology licensing and technology disputes.

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center received 393 responses from Respondents based in 62 countries. In addition to completing the Survey, 63 Respondents gave telephone interviews. Ranging from entities of 1-10 employees to entities of more than 10,000, Respondents are active in different business areas, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, IT, electronics, telecom, life sciences, chemicals, consumer goods and mechanical.

At pages 3 to 7, the Report provides an Executive Summary of core findings. To highlight just some of these:

- Cost and time are the two principal party concerns in negotiating dispute resolution clauses.

- Court litigation was the most common stand-alone clause (32%) included, followed by (expedited) arbitration (30%) and mediation (12%). Mediation was also included where parties used multi-tier clauses (a further 17% of all clauses).

- Disputes were resolved, in that order, through court litigation, arbitration, mediation, expedited arbitration and expert determination.

- Respondents incurred significantly higher costs and spent more time in court proceedings than in arbitration or mediation.

The Report (Chart 11, page 22) contains positive mention of the comparative use of WIPO clauses in technology agreements. - WIPO

RIP Lee Yuke Chin

Lee Yuke Chin, a graduate in Physics, is a registered patent, trademark and industrial design agent in Malaysia. During his career, Lee served as the Chief Patent Examiner when Malaysia introduced the new patent system in 1986 until 1993. He was also the Head of the National Patent Information and Documentation Center (PIDC). He has been involved in a number of international projects including the present WIPO Project on IP Portfolio Management in ASEAN countries and the Project for Establishment of IP Advisory Services and Information Center (IPASIC) in least developed countries (LDCs).

Lee was also the General Manager of the Malaysian Technology Consultants Sdn Bhd, a government-industry joint venture for technology transfer and commercialization of local inventions. He is experienced in providing technology innovation services which involve IP strategy development, technology licensing, business planning and funding mechanism to help inventors and research institutions commercialize their inventions. Lee is one of the founding member of the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS), in which he is actively involved in the promotion and commercialization of inventions.

Use Google Scholar to Search Academic Journals

Google Scholar is a new search tool to navigate academic journals and patents. Articles are cross linked with citations to indicate the popularity of an article. We use Google Scholar as part of our patent search routine to search for prior art.

Seminar on Plant Variety Protection 2013

Malaysia, being a signatory to the TRIPS Agreement, has obliged under Article 27.3 (b) by introducing the Plant Variety Protection system in the country as spelt in the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 (hereafter PNPV act). The Act was enacted in 2004 and offically in year 2008.

The PNPV Act aims to prove Plant Breeder's Right of new plant varieties regardless whether the creation by the conventional breeders, farmers, local communities or indigenous people. The PNPV Act contains manu common features with otehr Plant Variety Protection systems arund the world, but at the same time there are also some fundamental differences.

As spelt in subsection 15(2) PNPV Act 2004, local agent must be appointed by foreign applicants to deal with the Plant Variety Protection Office for any matters relating to application for registration and grant of a breeder's right. In such, Malaysian Intellectual Property Association (MIPA) is organizing an introductory seminar on plant variety peotection at Putrajaya International Convention Center, supported by Department of Agriculture. The seminar will clarify in greater depth regarding the PNPV Act 2004, the scope of protection, the role of agent in Plant Variety Protection System and the procedure of PNPV application. Through the seminar, agents who intend to enroll in providing IP service for plant breeders will be in a better position to assist their potential clients.

To learn more about the event click here: http://www.cvent.com/d/5cqv6k. Register now to ensure your seat.

Infographic: Who filed the most Hague design applications in 2012?

International industrial design applications filed under the Hague system grew by 3.3% on 2011. The 2,604 applications filed in 2012 contained 12,454 individual designs, representing 3.5% growth over 2011.






















Industrial design registrations related to packages and containers for transport or handling of goods accounted for the largest share of total registrations. - WIPO

Infographic: Who filed the most Madrid trademark applications in 2012?

International trademark applications filed under the Madrid system grew by 4.1% in 2012. France, Germany and the United States of America accounted for 36.5% of the 44,018 Madrid applications filed in 2012. The ranking for the top 10 countries remained unchanged, except for China which moved from sixth position in 2011 to seventh in 2012.

















The most popular classes of goods and services in international registrations recorded in 2012 were class 9 (computer & electronics) representing 9% of the total. - WIPO

Infographic: Who filed the most PCT patent applications in 2012?

In 2012, international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) grew by 6.6% on 2011. Japan and the United States of America (US) accounted for 48.8% of the 194,400 PCT applications filed in 2012. China's 2012 growth (+13.6%) is lower than that of previous two years; this partly reflects the sharp increase in Chinese fillings since 2009, as an enlarged filling base naturally reduces relative growth rates.













Electrical machinery with 13,293 published applications - or 7.5% of the total - overtook digital communications (7.1%) as the field of technology in which the largest number of PCT applications were published in 2012. - WIPO

Sowing the seeds of success

WITH 44 years of experience in research and development, Felda Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd is undeniably a market leader in oil palm planting materials in the country.

Felda Agricultural Services the technical arm of the Felda Group and associate company of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) raked in RM85mil from selling planting materials last year, and registered more than RM100mil in profits per annum for four consecutive years (2008-2011).

“We have a unique model. Although we are an R&D unit, we operate like a business entity and we are responsible for our own profit and loss,” itschief executive officer S. Palaniappan tells StarBizWeek.

Palaniappan says that Felda Agricultural Services' R&D activities are funded by its earnings, which is also paid out as dividends to its major shareholders Felda Holdings Bhd (a 49%-owned subsidiary of FGV) and Koperasi Permodalan Felda.

The company also invests about RM50mil-RM60mil annually in R&D, which covers oil palm breeding, biotechnology, tissue culture, molecular markers, applied technology and downstream processes.

The bulk of Felda Agricultural Services' revenue comes from selling planting materials and fresh fruit bunches from its research stations nationwide. In a year, Felda Agricultural Services produces an average of 25 million germinated seeds, says Palaniappan.

About 75% to 80% of the planting materials it produces are sold to other planters like Tradewinds Plantation Bhd, TH Plantations Bhd and Sarawak-based Rimbunan Hijau Group, while the remainder is sold to Felda plantations.

Overall, Felda Agricultural Services has captured 35% of the domestic planting materials market, according to Palaniappan.

Award-winner

‘It takes a long time to build a reputation. When people buy, plant and see the results they want, they will return. The product speaks for itself,’ says Felda Agricultural Services CEO S. Palaniappan.

Over the past nine years, Felda Yangambi has become an iconic oil palm seed brand, says Palaniappan. “We sold 26.5 million Felda Yangambiseeds last year.”

From 2008 to 2012, Felda Yangambiwon the Brand Laureate SMEs chapter awards for best brand in product branding, oil palm germinated seed and brand innovation.

The brand is so valuable that it has been pirated, Palaniappan says. “To ensure that clients get genuine seeds, we have incorporated security features like the hologram which enables traceability. The packaging also carries the Felda logo.”

The new Felda Seed Delivery and Security System for packaging and labelling retains all integral data of the seed, which will also ensure originality and traceability in the event of quality issues as well as reduce the risk of falsification.

The company is also looking into automating some of the seedling processing methods.

“This is a labour intensive industry but we have designed and developed machines that could help speed up the processes and to reduce our reliance on manual input,” says Palaniappan.

What makes the seed highly sought after is its ability to produce crops with desirable traits.

“It takes a long time to build a reputation. When people buy, plant and see the results they want, they will return. The product speaks for itself,” he says.

And for clients in Peninsular Malaysia, Felda Agricultural Services delivers seed orders to their doorstep.

Good business

The planting materials business is lucrative, says Palaniappan. “The margins are good because clients pay for your intellectual property,” he says.

Felda Agricultural Services has a biotechnology centre in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, which focuses on producing oil palm clones from tissue culture, DNA fingerprinting and profiling, and charting molecular markers for specific traits for use in marker-assisted breeding and to improve the cloning process.

It plans to introduce a “three-way cross” a new hybridisation planting material incorporating the Deli Dura, Nigerian Prospectus Material andYangambi strains. This new hybrid is currently under pilot testing and will be in the market in two to three years' time. “To be a market leader, we must be one step ahead others,” he says.

In the future, Felda Agricultural Services will release oil palm clones with specific traits such as virescence (green coloration in plant parts normally not green), Ganoderma tolerance, and compact palm.

Palaniappan says the palm fruit colour changing from green to orange would allow workers to identify and harvest ripe fruits with ease, as only ripe fruits can improve the oil extraction rate by 1% to 3%. Planters can improve their yields through better identification of ripe fruits.

“There is a lot of money involved in getting the right crop,” he says. - StarBiz

New approach in UTM’s innovations

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is taking a different approach when it comes to commercialising its research and development (R&D) innovations. If in the past, it had approached industries after its scientists or researchers were done with their R&D innovations, it now prefers to engage them at the earliest stage possible.

“The old way of doing things is no longer relevant. Most of the time, our efforts and money are wasted, as the industries are not interested in our innovations,” associate Professor Dr Arham Abdullah, Innovation and Commercialisation Centre (ICC) deputy director (Innovation), told StarBiz at the recent UTM-SRI Venture Readiness Programme. The four-day workshop on product commercialisation was held here recently for UTM researchers.

SRI International (formerly known as Stanford Research Institute) for innovation and commercialisation ventures is an independent, non-profit research institute in the Silicon Valley.

It conducts client-sponsored R&D for government agencies, commercial businesses, foundations and other organisations. It brings its R&D innovations to the marketplace by licensing its intellectual property (IP) and creating new ventures.

The collaboration between the two began in the middle of 2010, with a three-year programme called the UTM-SRI Venture Readiness Programme to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurial culture among UTM researchers. “We are currently engaging with SRI to commercialise 24 of our IPs in the Silicon Valley,” he revealed.

Dr Arham said by approaching the industries before the commencement of the R&D activities, both the researchers and the industries could indentify whether the innovations or the new technologies had the potential to be commericialised. - StarBiz