Fast forward to 2023-24 and we processed more than 124,000 applications for patents, trade marks, designs, and plant breeder's rights. This creates a secure environment for investment in innovation and technology transfer, and enables companies to build their brand and business reputation.
A year of progress
This year we made significant contributions to the global IP system. In May, we played a key role in successful negotiations for the Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge, at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) conference in Geneva.
This historic Treaty, the result of more than 20 years of work, marks a crucial step by recognising the use of Indigenous peoples' Traditional Knowledge within patent systems. We also welcomed the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will help promote better protection and enforcement of IP rights in trade and adopted WIPO’s Madrid Goods and Services list which streamlines the international trade mark process for exporters.
Collaborations and partnerships
We established a pilot Indigenous Knowledge Panel to explore how the IP system can better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in benefiting from and protecting their Indigenous Knowledge.
Throughout the year, we met with delegations from international IP offices, industry representatives, and academic institutions to foster collaboration and share expertise in IP management.
This included:
- signing Memorandums of Understanding with the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
- partnering with WIPO and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to build IP capacity in the Indo-Pacific through the WIPO Funds-in-Trust program
- participating in a Global Mentoring Pilot with 15 IP offices
- welcoming WIPO’s Director General Daren Tang, and officials from IP offices in China, Korea, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Singapore to our Canberra office
- hosting patent and trade mark sessions for Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorneys (IPTA) members.
Our customer first approach
We made strides in modernising our services, including:
- launching the new Australian Patent Search tool and semantic search tool for trade mark classification
- integrating our TM Checker trade mark tool on our website
- collaborating with federal government agencies to increase awareness of IP rights and other programs and services available for small businesses, including hosting a workshop and booth at South by Southwest Sydney.
Research and innovation
We released the Australian IP Report 2024, highlighting the importance of collaboration between universities, startups, and established firms for innovation and joint research and development.
We also released a series of reports and research papers on patenting activity, and our in-house innovation lab, IPAVentures, considered future possibilities with a concept piece of how the IP system could be leveraged to advance social good.
Looking forward
As we approach 2025, we are building on our 120-year legacy and focusing on the future.
We’re proud to be recognised as one of the world’s most innovative IP offices, and an inclusive employer, and we remain committed to enabling Australians to benefit from great ideas by providing a world-leading IP system.