Center for Policy Research, Bangladesh (Hereinafter called the CPR, Bangladesh) commemorates the World IP Day 2021 with an International Online Conference on Monday, April 26, 2021 at 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM.

The CPR, Bangladesh, with solemn vigilance, like every other year, had conducted an international online Conference on the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day 2021, attended by the Senior Partners of Centre for Policy Research, Bangladesh, Former head of Patent Section, Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), Ministry of Industries, Government of Bangladesh, President, Association of Business Women, North Macedonia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Life Consulting and Development Ltd and the Founding Partner of Furgang and Edwar LLP, New York, USA. The discussion focused on the theme of World IP Day 2021: “Intellectual Property and SMEs.”

In the opening remarks, Dr. Ishtiaque A. Zaman, Senior Partner, Centre for Policy Research, Bangladesh and Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Founder & Senior Partner, Centre for Policy Research, Bangladesh, both stressed the needs of the institutional infrastructures for intellectual property and SMEs to support the IPDP – Intellectual Property Development Program of Centre for Policy Research, Bangladesh for growth, new employment and economic sustainably in the LDCs and developing world.

Mr. S. M. Enamul Haque, Former head of Patent Section, Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), Ministry of Industries, Government of Bangladesh had presented the idea of managing the intellectual property policy of Bangladesh and the critical need of institutional architectures for intellectual property (IP) in Bangladesh. Mr. Mohammad Rial Ahsan, CEO of Life Consulting and Development Ltd stressed the need for a seamless integration of the process from idea to commercialization of products to have a smooth transition of the SMEs from an underdeveloped status to developing status. The critical most success factors of an organized IP strategy are creating a constitutional framework and an independent regulatory body working for the Government to oversee the process of transferring an idea to a commercial product in the local and International markets. However, the government should leave the implementation of the process to the private sector entities working with the Government Institutions.

Ms. Valentina Disoska, President, Association of Business Women, North Macedonia shared her experiences in the overall development of Women Entrepreneurs in North Macedonia which is important component for the development of EU SMEs. Mr. Philip Furgang, Founding Partner of Furgang and Edwar LLP, New York, USA discussed the importance of strong intellectual property rights. He also shares the critical success of US experience in field of IP. He had pinned the hope for experience of Bangladesh in overall economic development in LDCs and developing world.