A key seminar on Intellectual Property Protection concluded on Wednesday with Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion; and Dr Saleh bin Said Masan affirming the event’s contribution to reinforcing the intellectual property system and strengthening ongoing collaborative between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Sultanate of Oman.
The focus of the seminar also extended to cooperation in higher education and specialized WIPO schools, along with WIPO's projects that generate employment opportunities and foster intellectual property assets in member states.
The contribution of these projects to supporting national creative industries that drive economic growth was assessed as well. Besides, the seminar explored WIPO's approach and expertise in measuring creative outcomes.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, in collaboration with WIPO and the Omani Society for Intellectual Property, organized the "High Level Dialogue between the Sultanate of Oman and WIPO."
The dialogue recommended establishing connections between higher education institutions in the Sultanate of Oman to benefit from WIPO's training and capacity-building programs in the field of intellectual property. The project for an Omani version of the general course in intellectual property was also emphasized, with a dedicated working group assigned to its development.
Additionally, the establishment of a national training center in intellectual property, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Labour, was recommended. A designated point of contact with WIPO was proposed to initiate collaboration on this project.
Furthermore, the dialogue advocated for the approval of the existing cooperation project between WIPO and Sultan Qaboos University, focusing on a joint master's program in intellectual property. It emphasized the need to prepare a national program linking intellectual property with education in the Sultanate of Oman, in partnership with WIPO. This program should incorporate intellectual property into the curricula of schools, universities, and academic institutions.
The outcomes of the dialogue highlighted WIPO's cooperation with Oman in designing a training program for incubators and entrepreneurship. Additionally, WIPO's assistance in enhancing the National Intellectual Property Office's service provision to stakeholders was underscored.
Recommendations were made to develop an efficient administrative infrastructure for creative industries, establish rights management mechanisms, and leverage WIPO's aid in strengthening and enhancing the capacity of national institutions in assessing the economic significance of the creative sector and managing intellectual property within the creative industries.
The dialogue also called for the utilization of WIPO's support in training law enforcement officials and judicial authorities in the Sultanate of Oman. It proposed the formation of specialized councils and committees to settle intellectual property disputes, the establishment of a dedicated intellectual property department within the Sultanate of Oman's courts, and the preparation of a specialized training program at the Judicial Institute. Lastly, an action plan was recommended to activate technology and innovation support centers, along with the continuation of the existing cooperation program with WIPO.
Moreover, the dialogue emphasized the importance of collaborating with WIPO to raise awareness of intellectual property among entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized companies. Support should be provided to enable these entities to utilize intellectual property for the development and marketing of their products.
Additionally, a working group consisting of relevant authorities in the Sultanate of Oman should be established to monitor the progress of the Omani frankincense project and leverage research outputs and literature on frankincense in Omani universities. Lastly, a training program for diplomats is set to commence in the final quarter of this year in cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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