LOFTY goals
When SAIP was established, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial design came together under one organization. Could you tell us more about the process of bringing these IP responsibilities together?
IP is a key factor for the future development of Saudi Arabia’s economy, and Vision 2030 stipulates targets that are directly enabled by IP. In line with this, Council of Ministers Resolution 410 set forth new governance for IP in the Kingdom in the shape of SAIP. IP is internationally regulated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which leads the growth of a balanced and effective international IP system that promotes innovation and creativity for the benefit of its member states. The IP system, however, differs from country to country. Saudi Arabia decided to bring all IP fields under one unified authority, and SAIP was established as one of the initiatives of the trade and investment ecosystem to facilitate business, support the national economy, encourage investment, and boost the Kingdom's ranking on the World Competitiveness Index. Bringing these IP responsibilities together helps us to see the whole picture, making it easier to revise and draft laws and regulations.
What approach should companies or individuals wanting to register IP take?
IP assets play a growing role as the importance of a knowledge-based economy develops in Saudi Arabia. Companies or individuals wanting to register their IP should first identify which type of IPs they have. In this context, SAIP launched “What is your IP?” an electronic tool at the SAIP Website (saip.gov. sa) that helps applicants identify the type of their IP. In the current situation, we have an electronic platform for filing patent applications. All the processes of a patent filing are electronic; Saudi Arabia is among the first countries that started to file patents electronically. Our first initiative is to revise all our processes to increase efficiency. The second initiative is to translate all these processes into an IT system that is not off the shelf. The third initiative is to ensure we have the proper infrastructure to implement all these processes. Currently, 75% of our services are done electronically, and we are working hard to convert the other 25%.
Our vision is to be a hub in the MENA region, and to do this we extended our collaboration with international affiliates. We have signed an agreement with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). We have started collaborating with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and have an agreement with the European Patent Office. Those agreements are focused on the exchange of expertise and capacity building, which is crucial to become an excellent IP office or authority. Second is the exchange of data, and while there is a fast track of patent offices, we seek to sign Patent Prosecution Highway agreements with those offices to exchange our examination reports, which will increase the speed of finalizing patents and reduce the backlog in our office. Third is to share our policies and guidelines with other international offices in order to align with international best practices.
The short-term target is to revise our national laws and policies and work toward standardization. The second target is to increase the number of international treaties related to IP treaties joined by Saudi Arabia from six to 13 in 2020. The third target is to prepare an IP national strategy and set implementation plans and timeline in coordination with related entities. Lastly, we seek to move on with e-services in all our activities and set a strategy for backlog applications. ✖
What role will digitization play in growing the SME segment’s contribution to the Saudi economy?
Digitalization is an increasingly important aspect that has gained even greater relevance as a trend, acting as a disruptive force across different sectors of the economy. Take the retail segment, for example, where e-commerce has brought major changes, revolutionizing interactions with clients and, more generally, the way business is conducted. Even the concept of asset-ownership has witnessed a meaningful change. Uber is a successful example of a leader in the car-sharing logistics segment without owning transport vehicles; in a similar way, Airbnb has disrupted the hospitality segment without owning any property. These stories tell us digital is already there, impacting business models and setting new trends even in Saudi Arabia. As such, SMEs need to ensure they remain ahead of the innovation curve and fully exploit the various competitive advantages of the digital economy.
aiming at bridging the investment gap and spurring more SME investments.”
What are Monsha’at’s strategic priorities and expectations for 2019, and what is the main driver behind them?
Looking at the SME ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, we are in the early stages, especially when looking at the development of entrepreneurship. Indeed, we recently started to set up the necessary infrastructure conducive to a sustainable environment and to meeting the goals set by Saudi Vision 2030. As such, we need to look at the broader spectrum and implement and support programs and projects aimed at developing and growing SMEs within their different stages and requirements. On the venture capital side, we launched a SAR2.8-billion government VC fund targeting start-ups, aiming at bridging the investment gap and spurring more SME investments. When it comes to business enablement, we have created and supported through official licenses, a series of hubs, and co-working spaces to nurture young companies and provide them with the right environment. Finally, we have announced many accelerators to ensure start-ups grow organically into businesses that provide the right type of services to the market.
How can the government increase the attractiveness of entrepreneurship in the eyes of young Saudi nationals?
Saudi Arabia’s start-up environment is in its nascent phase, with many different young companies in their early phase being led by young entrepreneurs. As such, the whole country is heavily reliant on the success of these business propositions and young minds, which is why we need to provide all the necessary support to make them succeed. Naturally, this will also have to come through a certain proposition of incentives, which is why we recognize the best start-ups with appropriate awards. This initiative provides the entire ecosystem with positive, healthy competition and seeks to spur all players to progress in their endeavors despite the natural challenges that they will encounter along the way. ✖