On Tuesday, 7th March 2023, the Intellectual Property Office Brunei Darussalam (BruIPO) and the Office of Assistant Vice Chancellor (Innovation & Enterprise) (OAVCIE), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), at UBD Startup Centre (USC), Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
The MOU serves as a general framework to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between both organisations as well as initiate a working relationship in different areas of mutual interest. In particular, UBD is aiming to officially establish the UBD Technology and Innovation Support Centre (UBD-TISC). This will be a one-stop centre for matters pertaining to research, innovation and locally-based, high-quality technology information services at UBD, with the support of BruIPO and the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). Both UBD and BruIPO are also aiming to collaborate in the area of Intellectual Property professional development and Entrepreneurship Education among others.
In his welcoming remarks prior to the signing, Director of Innovation and Enterprise Pg Dr Emeroylariffion Pg Abas said, “We are hoping that through UBD-TISC (to provide innovation support) and USC (to support commercialisation of our IPs and expertise), we will be able translate some of the many research done by UBD into commercialisation, and hence, accomplish one of our strategic objective: to nurture innovation and translate into commercialisation.”
The MOU was signed by Puan Norazizah Haji Jaafar, Head/Deputy Registrar of BruIPO and Professor Dr Mohammad Ayub Sadiq, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Innovation & Enterprise) of UBD. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmad Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, Attorney General in his capacity as the Registrar of BruIPO and Dr Hazri Haji Kifle, Vice-Chancellor of UBD witnessed the signing.
Since being officially recognised as a research-intensive university, UBD has rapidly risen up the ranks among top universities in the Asia region. UBD endeavours to collaborate with various government sectors and industries in order to make its research and innovation more impactful and relevant to Brunei. At the same time, UBD is also working hard on developing an entrepreneurial mindset among its staff and students. These are in line with UBD’s strategic goal of becoming a University of Innovation and Enterprise, by nurturing innovation from staff and students and translating them into enterprises; thereby, contributing to the development of the country.