National Intellectual Property Systems, Innovation and Economic Development
With perspectives on Colombia and Indonesia
This publication addresses the role of national systems of IP in the socio-economic development of emerging countries, notably through their impact on innovation. It presents a framework that identifies the key mechanisms that enable IP systems to support emerging countries’ innovation and development objectives. The report also discusses two IP country studies conducted for Colombia and Indonesia. These are based on analyses of the national intellectual property systems, drawing on country missions that gathered detailed information and feedback from more than 100 stakeholders on IP-related priorities and bottlenecks. Concrete policy recommendations are provided for both countries.
Overall assessment and recommendations
Innovation matters even in countries with less developed industrial conditions. Incremental innovations in activities beyond “knowledge-intensive” sectors can offer substantial opportunities for success. Examples include the successful exports of fish from Uganda, wine from Argentina and Chile, and medicinal plants from India. An exclusive focus on high-technology industries (“high-tech myopia”) can be costly if the potential for innovation in other sectors is ignored. Many opportunities for innovation have arisen in lower-technology sectors with high export opportunities, such as the production of palm oil and derivative products in Malaysia.