One of government priority agenda to increase innovation of local product competitiveness at international market is Intellectual Property Right (IPR). The current level of IPR is very low, 1% of total National GDP.In the Global Innovation Index 2015, Indonesia ranked 97 of 141 states.
This was said by Acting Head of Agency for Policy Review and Development (BPPK) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Salman Al Farisi, in a Forum for Foreign Policy Studies (FKKLN), held on Thursday (10/3) in Harper Mangkubumi Hotel. It is hosted by BPPK and Institute of International Studies at the International Relations department of UGM with the theme: IPR Development: Innovation and Competition Improvement of Indonesian Products.
“We need to be aware of strengthening the national IPR in the long term which is more comprehensive. To reach that goal, the diplomacy of Indonesia is directed towards the national interest in the regime of international IPR,” he said opening the forum.
Dr. Poppy S. Winanti, S.IP., MPP, Head of International Relations department of UGM, revealed an analysis of use of Indonesian intellectual property for economic growth. Between years 1986-1994 when negotiation of protection of IPR emerged in the WTO, the debated issue was the economic profit to be gained, particulary for developing nations. IPR protection can drive foreign direct investment there as well as transfer of technology.
According to Poppy, culturally, society has not been accustomed to applying for a product as an intellectual property. “For instance, a family herbal medicine has not been thought of as being able to be registered as an intellectual property as this is only consumed personally. IPR only takes centre stage when a product has commercial value,” said she.
Similar views were shared by Parlagutan Lubis, S.H., M.H., Director for Cooperation and IPR in the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. He regretted society has not been aware of what can be categorised as IPR and the importance of having IPR. “Actually, we have established a regulation for IPR, but not many people have applied for it,” he said.
Through this forum, BPPK is trying to supports optimising the use of IPR regime to support national interests, especially for economic development. The forum is expected to bring up recommendation related to national strategy to develop three pillars of IPR: innovation development, increased protection of IPR, and strengthening of commercialisation. “There is still room for Indonesia to develop, encourage, and protect innovations and increase competitiveness through IPR,” said Salman.