Hanoi will boost training activities and cooperation with the business community to raise awareness on intellectual property (IP) protection and benefits from this for building the brand and position in the domestic and foreign markets.

Nguyen Thi Hong Tham, Deputy Head of the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology’s IP Management Section, the city has implemented many solutions to support businesses in innovating technologies and production processes, researching and developing new products.

She said the city has tens of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises. “We have registered IP rights for many agricultural products and craft villages of Hanoi,” Tham said.

Nguyen Thi Phuong, Director of Song Phuong Trading and Manufacturing JSC, said IP protection has played an important role in her company’s development.

“I registered IP protection rights for Ha Thanh dried rice noodles, or pho, before making it a good brand name in the market. This has helped my company avoid litigation related to IP,” Phuong said.

She said the noodle is one of the products that the company has registered for its IP protection rights, including Hanoi vermicelli.

“With our product rights protected, we will focus on developing products and expand business activities,” she told The Hanoi Times. “IP is also an effective marketing tool to help the company position the brand and penetrate tough markets.”

Song Phuong was one of many companies that have protected their products’ brand names with support from Hanoi’s IP Development Program.

Bui Van Sang, People's Committee Chairman of Thanh Oai, an outskirt district of Hanoi, said the district has supported owners of some products under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program in the process of IP registration, building brands, and participating in trade promotion programs.

The district has 31 products rated with three and four stars under the OCOP program including Phuong Trung Commune’s conical hat, Nep Cai Hoa Vang sticky rice in Tam Hung Commune, and Lien Chau Commune’s duck eggs.

Sang said the district will closely follow Hanoi's IP Asset Development Program by 2030, which was launched to support businesses in registration for protection, management, and development of IP assets.

"The program will help us check the origin and quality for OCOP products, and focus on potential products such as metal vessels, sculptures, statues, fans, and soy sauce," Sang told The Hanoi Times.

We will also focus on raising awareness of people and businesses about the protection and development of IP assets," he added.

The IP Asset Development Program by 2030 has been issued by the Hanoi People's Committee recently, with an aim of turning IP into an important tool of the city's socio-economic development.

Under the program, Hanoi’s authorities expect to have at least 60% of specialties under the OCOP program protected by the IP law by 2030.

By 2030, at least 80% of enterprises will be aware of IP protection through training courses, according to the latest decision on the program by 2030 signed by Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung.

The number of patent and trademark applications will increase by an annual average of 16-18% and 8-10%, respectively. Among 60% of specialties whose IP rights are protected, at least four will be exported to overseas markets.

To realize the program, the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology has proposed six key solutions including strengthening IP-related activities, improving the quality of resources on innovation and IP, and encouraging registration for IP protection at home and abroad.

Deputy Director of the department Nguyen Anh Tuan said the department will improve the efficiency of IP asset management, exploitation, and development, with a focus on the enforcement of IP laws and prevention of violations to IP rights.

"We will also expand the capacity of intermediary organizations and IP rights holders, form and create a culture of IP in society," Tuan said.

Le Kinh Hai, Director of Viet Intellectual Property Asset Progression Co., Ltd., (Ipaspro) said the city's IP Asset Development Program is an opportunity for many quality products to be protected. "The business community needs to work closely with authorities to raise awareness on IP when selling their products in the market."

Hai said his company has been carrying out the completion of the management system and the development of two projects including collective brands of “Soc Son medicinal herbs” and “Soc Son-Hanoi Nep Cai Hoa Vang sticky rice”. After six months, the two projects initially achieved remarkable economic results with the participation of the local authorities and people.

According to the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology, in the 2016-20 period, it has received 1,697 applications for patent, 834 for utility solution protection, 2,221 for industrial design, and 61,491 for trademark registration.

The city has supported the establishment, management of certification, and collective marks for 64 farm produce and craft village products such as Ba Vi District’s chicken, Van Dinh Commune’s grass duck, Dan Phuong District’s yellow pomelo, as well as the registration of four collective brands.

With the support from the local authorities, the IP Asset Development Program is expected to promote the OCOP program in the capital city, where is home to more than 1,300 craft villages, making an important contribution to the capital's socio-economic growth.