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Singapore's Daren Tang secures second term at UN patent agency
🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Singapore's Daren Tang secures second term at UN patent agency

From CNA · (1d ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Singapore's Daren Tang was reappointed for a second six-year term as head of the UN's World Intellectual Property Organization.
  • Member states unanimously reappointed Tang, the sole candidate, during the agency's general assembly.
  • Tang aims to continue transforming IP into a business asset and addressing global challenges in his second term.

Singapore's Daren Tang has secured a second term leading the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a testament to his effective stewardship of the UN agency. His reappointment, unopposed, underscores the global confidence in his leadership and Singapore's growing influence on the international stage.

During his first term, Tang successfully repositioned intellectual property (IP) from a purely technical matter to a crucial economic driver, fostering innovation and job creation. This strategic shift has been instrumental in highlighting IP's role in global development.

In my first term, I worked with member states to transform IP from a technical and legal matter into a business, economic and financial asset that helps drive innovation and creativity, and serves as a catalyst for jobs, investments, growth and development.

— Daren TangStatement on his achievements in his first term as WIPO chief.

Looking ahead, Tang's agenda for his second term is ambitious, focusing on modernizing IP systems to meet the demands of an AI-driven world, ensuring global IP standards remain relevant, and leveraging IP to tackle pressing global challenges. His vision aligns with Singapore's own commitment to innovation and its role as a forward-thinking nation.

This reappointment is particularly significant for Singapore, showcasing its ability to produce leaders who can navigate complex international organizations and contribute meaningfully to global governance. It reflects a broader trend of Asian nations taking on more prominent roles in international bodies, bringing diverse perspectives to global challenges.

For the second term, this work will continue, so that WIPO's IP systems are efficient and effective in serving users, global IP standards continue being updated to meet the needs of innovators and creators in a fast changing world driven by AI, IP continues to be protected and used by millions around the world and harnessed to address global challenges, and IP moves from the periphery to the centre.

— Daren TangStatement outlining his vision for his second term as WIPO chief.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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