Agreement on the enhancement of Japan-ASEAN IP Cooperation at the 15th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting in Thailand

August 21, 2025

On August 19, 2025, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the intellectual property offices (IPOs) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States held the 15th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

At this meeting, the JPO and ASEAN IPOs agreed on the FY2025-2026 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan.

In addition, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)^*1 presented their reports on research and studies related to branding strategies being implemented in cooperation with ASEAN countries, as well as research and studies related to patent examinations for remarkable technologies in Pharmaceutical and Related fields.

Furthermore, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by the heads of the JPO and Thailand to update the Japan-Thailand PPH pilot program, which is set to expire at the end of December 2025. The JPO also held bilaterial meetings with the Laos, Philippines and Singapore, wherein the continuous promotion of bilateral cooperation was confirmed.

The JPO is pleased to continue promoting further international cooperative initiatives with overseas IP offices.
 

• ^*1 The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) is an international research institute established in Jakarta in June 2008. ERIA conducts policy research and recommendations for deepening economic integration, improving development gaps, and promoting sustainable economic growth in 16 East Asian countries (ASEAN, Japan, China, Korea, India, Australia, and NZ). It also makes recommendations at the summit level, including the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Summit, and conducts policy research upon request.
  

  ERIA's website (External link)
   

For the outcomes of the meeting, please refer to the link below.

Outcomes from the Fifteenth Meeting of the Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices
 

The 15th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting

Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation with Thailand
(Left) JPO Deputy Commissioner YASUDA Futoshi,
(Right) Director General Nusara (Thailand)

Bilateral meeting with Deputy Director General Saybandith (Laos),
On the right is JPO Deputy Commissioner YASUDA Futoshi

Bilateral meeting with Director General Da Costa-Villaluz (the Philippines),
On the left is JPO Deputy Commissioner YASUDA Futoshi

Bilateral meeting with Chief Executive Tan (Singapore),
On the right is JPO Deputy Commissioner YASUDA Futoshi

[Last updated 21 Augast 2025]