On November 7, 2023, the International Workshop on Intellectual Property Management in the Era of Internet of Thing (IOT) was grandly held at the Dragon Hotel in Hangzhou. In the era of the IOT, technological development exhibits characteristics such as high integration, high complexity, high connectivity, and high uncertainty. Intellectual property management in enterprises needs to adapt to new changes in technology and the market. The workshop brought together experts and scholars from government departments, leading enterprises, and universities to discuss the concepts, methods, and means of innovative intellectual property management. The aim was to improve the quality and efficiency of intellectual property, promote the transfer, transformation, and realization of intellectual property value, and advance open cooperation and international exchanges in the field of intellectual property.

The workshop was jointly organized by National Institute for Innovation Management (NIMN), Zhejiang University, Institute for Intellectual Property Management (IIPM), School of Management, Zhejiang University, and the Zhejiang Intellectual Property Association. Dignitaries attending the event included leaders from the National Intellectual Property Office, the Zhejiang Provincial Intellectual Property Office, the Zhejiang Provincial Intellectual Property Protection Center,  the Market Supervision Administration  (Binjiang District, Hangzhou), and intellectual property department heads from members entreprises of the "Excellent Innovation Enterprise Committee" of NIMN, including Alibaba Goup, Geely Group, REPT BATTERO, Zhongtian Holdings, Ant Group, Hikvision, Hengtong Group, Goldwind Technology, CHINT Group, Nongfu Spring, XIZI UHC, Dahua Technology, SUPCON, Beingmate and others.

The workshop was chaired by Professor Huang Can, Executive Deputy Director of NIMN and Co-Director of IIPM. Professor Huang Can briefly introduced the history and the development of IIPM, as well as the ten-year collaboration and achievements with two Dutch experts, Ruud Peters and Frans Greidanus. He expressed heartfelt thanks to all the attending guests and huge supports from many mentioned institutions.

Prof. Huang chaired the workshop

Mr. Ruud Peters, member of the International Advisory Committee of the Zhejiang University School of Management, Advisory Board Chairman of the IIPM, and former Executive Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Officer of Royal Philips, delivered a speech titled "Reform of the Standard Essential Patent Governance in Europe and its Implication." Mr. Ruud Peters began by providing background information on the new regulations for managing European standard essential patents. He introduced the draft's scope and three main features, including the registration and random inspection of standard essential patents, the process for determining licensing fees, and the mandatory determination of FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) rates before patent litigation. Mr. Ruud Peters also discussed the impact of the new regulations on the global intellectual property industry and their implications for Chinese enterprises and patent standardization in China.

Mr. Ruud Peters gave the speech

Professor Frans Greidanus, Qiushi Chair Professor at Zhejiang University, Co-Director of the IIPM, former Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Asia of Philips, delivered a speech titled "Alignment of R&D and IP Management." Professor Frans Greidanus began by discussing the principles of corporate research and development (R&D) and innovation. He elaborated on the necessity of synergy between R&D and intellectual property work, and he delved into methods for managing human resources in corporate R&D.

Prof. Frans Greidanus gave the speech

In the interactive discussion session, Mr. Ruud Peters presented the core processes and project management methods of corporate intellectual property departments from three perspectives: intellectual property creation and value acquisition, intellectual property risk management and value contribution, and the intellectual property consulting process. Professor Frans Greidanus shared the essential factors for successful corporate intellectual property management, including the establishment of effective systems, the clarification of the goals of the R&D team, and the cultivation of a motivation culture for R&D staff.