Johor Bahru, June 5, 2024 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) hosted a successful Intellectual Property (IP) Workshop as part of the Faculty of Science Research Year 2024 initiative. Held at UTM HELIxS Room, the event provided faculty members and students with valuable insights into the world of intellectual property, highlighting the importance of protecting their research and ideas.
One of the key speakers, Associate Professor Dr. Lee Siew Ling, captivated the audience with her presentation titled, “We Are All Inventors.” Dr. Lee outlined the crucial role of researchers as inventors, guiding them through the process of transforming their ideas, research, and theses into patents. She emphasized how researchers can leverage IP protection to safeguard their work, enhance its commercial potential, and contribute to the academic community. “Every researcher has the potential to be an inventor. Intellectual property protection is the bridge that turns ideas into valuable assets,” Dr. Lee shared.
The workshop featured two hands-on sessions, starting with a session on copyrights by Dr. Siti Pauliena Mohd Bohari, followed by Dr. Lee’s patent-focused session. Participants were able to draft their IP applications during these sessions, with immediate feedback provided by the speakers. The benefits of these workshops were evident, with one successful copyright application already submitted, and several patent applications expected in the near future.
For researchers, securing intellectual property rights offers significant advantages. It protects their discoveries from unauthorized use, opens doors to potential commercialization, and enhances their professional profile. Additionally, owning IP can provide researchers with opportunities for collaboration with industry, leading to funding and further research development.
Dr. Muhamad Iqbal Jalaludin, the program director, remarked on the importance of workshops like this in promoting innovation within the university. He also noted that future workshops could be further improved by aligning them more closely with IP submission deadlines and incorporating fresh content to retain the interest of returning participants.
