The steep increase in PVP applications in China and the rapidly growing number of botanical taxa included in the system have resulted in the creation of new DUS test centres and the collaboration with existing institutions working in this field. Next to the training of experts involved in DUS testing work, establishing a solid framework to organise the cooperation with test centres will be an important task for the PVP authorities.

The Workshop and On-site Training on IT Tools for IP Authorities: TMView, DesignView, and TMClass was one of two activities organised by IP Key SEA in 2019 that focused on the EUIPO Convergence Programme. The IT tools concerned were developed by the EUIPO under the Convergence Programme to make information on trade marks and industrial designs transparent and accessible to stakeholders worldwide. The integration of SEA IP offices into these global tools will benefit businesses, which will be assured of access to up-to-date information on trade marks and industrial designs.

The Workshop on the Extension of EU Trade Mark Practices to South-East Asian (SEA) IP Offices was one of two activities organised by IP Key SEA in 2019 that focused on the EUIPO Convergence Programme. The workshop was expected to promote the extension of European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) practices to SEA IP offices in order to improve the quality of IP services offered by the latter. The extension of these practices will assure stakeholders and businesses in SEA that IP offices there apply trade mark protection standards comparable with those in the EU.

Following the meeting held in Manila, Philippines on 10-11 June 2019, this 2nd Regional Meeting on the Development of an ASEAN Training Programme for AMS IPO Patent Examiners will continue the development and implementation of a SEA Patent Examiner Coaching Programme where SEA IP Offices conducting substantive patent search and examination would adopt a regional collective training programme for newly recruited patent examiners. Under the programme, a training methodology and a set of training materials will be developed with the assistance of European and international patent experts.

IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) organised the Roving Seminar for European and SEA users on obtaining patent protection in Europe and SEA countries. In cooperation with the European Patent Office (EPO) and the South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk, the seminars were hosted from 11 to 18 October 2019 in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and received a very good turnout of participants from EU businesses and SEA companies as well as patent agents and patent attorneys.

EU and Southeast Asian trade mark experts from the public and private sectors convened in Bangkok, Thailand, on 15-16 October at the IP Key SEA Conference on trade marks. The conference aimed to promote the improvement of the trade mark environment in Southeast Asia and encouraged exchanges on the IP landscape in the digital era where the examination, protection, and enforcement of trade marks have been highly contested.
 

The High-Level Study Visit will consist of a half day seminar focusing on the benefits of membership in the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 1991), the advantages of the EU Community Plant Variety Rights (CPVR) system under the UPOV 1991 Act, and the experience of Viet Nam as a UPOV 1991 member, and visits to various sites.  High-level and senior officials responsible for plant variety protection in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam will participate in the Study Visit.  The activity will include visits to GEVES, a French Testing Authorit