The new Chairman of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Mr. Nicky Tan, who was appointed last April, has stated that he will continue to focus on incentivizing multinational corporations to conduct research and development (R&D) activities in Singapore.

In his first interview with the Business Times since taking office, Chairman Tan emphasized that attracting R&D investment from multinational corporations within Singapore will create "good jobs" for locals and provide "additional business opportunities" for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He also added, "I think this provides a conduit to encourage our domestic enterprises to invest and pay attention to intangible assets (IA) and intellectual property (IP)."

Chairman Tan, an accounting expert, mentioned that his background will help him passionately explain the importance of trademark and patent registration to business owners. He believes that a strong intellectual property protection environment is essential for attracting and retaining innovative companies.

Singapore has already achieved significant success in attracting R&D investment based on its stable legal system, excellent infrastructure, and skilled workforce. The government is also actively encouraging R&D activities through various incentives and support programs.

Chairman Tan's remarks are interpreted as a demonstration of Singapore's commitment to further strengthen its position as an intellectual property hub, foster high-value-added industries, and secure future growth engines. R&D investment by multinational corporations contributes to technology transfer and the creation of an innovation ecosystem, which ultimately can lead to the strengthening of Singapore's overall economic competitiveness.

In the future, IPOS is expected to focus on further strengthening the intellectual property rights protection system, improving related regulations, and expanding research collaboration and human resource development programs to create an attractive environment for multinational corporations to choose Singapore as their R&D hub. It is also expected to explore ways to support domestic companies in effectively utilizing and managing their intellectual property.

Under the leadership of Chairman Nicky Tan, attention is focused on whether IPOS can further advance Singapore into a global R&D center.