العربية
Elevating Intellectual Property, Research, and Innovation in Oman Forum
Sohar University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is organizing the Forum on Elevating Intellectual Property, Research, and Innovation in Oman. This event will take place at the Sohar University campus on October 2 and 3, 2024, under the patronage of Her Excellency Prof. Rahma Ibrahim Al-Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation.
The forum will address various issues related to intellectual property and emphasize the importance of protecting intellectual property as a tool for fostering innovation and supporting researchers and innovators in the Sultanate.
The forum will feature 9 experts, and specialists in the field of intellectual property from both within and outside the Sultanate. Representatives from WIPO, will also participate. Other participating entities include the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Omani Intellectual Property Association among, SME development Authority, and others.
The forum commenced with a speech by Dr. Hamdan Al-Fazari, Vice Chancellor of Sohar University, who stated, “ the Oman 2040 Vision focuses strongly on higher education, research and innovation to enhance national capacities. Research and innovation are fundamental components of any successful university and of any successful country as they are both critical to the economic and social well-being of society. Research At the university and the national level is crucial for driving innovation, economic growth, and societal progress. Countries and universities that prioritize research invest in the development of new knowledge, new technologies, and solutions that can address pressing challenges and improve the quality of life.”
This was followed by an inaugural address by Mr. Mohamed Abderraouf Bdioui, Senior Counsellor at the WIPO Academy, which included “The Forum also comes to consolidate the national endeavor towards reaching Oman Vision 2040, which WIPO is continuously supporting and consolidating, by assisting Oman to be transformed into a knowledge and innovation-based economy.” and IIM He said. Her Excellency Dr. Rahma Al-Mahrouqi also delivered a speech.
The first day included multiple working papers, starting with “IP, Research & Innovation: Government Perspective in the Context of Oman’s Vision 2040”, presented by Mr. Muhanna Al-Zuheimi Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation. This was followed by working paper of Mr. Julio Raffo, Head of Innovation Economy Section Department of Economics and Data Analytics at WIPO Geneva, who discussed “Making Innovation Policy Work for Development: Insights from World Intellectual Property Report 2024.”
Further discussions included topics such as “High-Tech, Intellectual Property and Open Knowledge Ecosystem” presented by Dr. Said Jaboob, from the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and Intellectual Property Challenges in the Era of Artificial Intelligence by Mr. Hamdan Al-Alawi from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. A paper on Moving Ideas from Research to Market was delivered by Mr. Michael Mbogoro, Head, Technology Transfer Section at WIPO.
During the forum, several agreements were signed, including a Memorandum of Agreement between Sohar University and the Indian Institute of Management and another Memorandum of Understanding between Sohar University and the Sultan Qaboos Naval Academy. A collaboration document was also signed between the Environment Authority, Vale Oman, and Sohar University.
The first day concluded with a Panel Discussion on Opportunities and Q&A, featuring contributions from Mr. Mohamed Abderraouf Bdioui, Mr. Muhanna Al-Zuheimi, Mr. Hamdan Al-Alawi, and Dr. Said Jaboob, moderated by Nur Naha, Dean of the Faculty of Business at Sohar University.
This global forum significantly contributes to raising awareness of the importance of intellectual property and its role in supporting innovation and sustainable development in the Sultanate of Oman.