The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in cooperation with the Department of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia with support from the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global, organized the National Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) Training Workshop on TISC Project Management and Patent Search Skill Building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The National Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) Training Workshop on TISC Project Management and Patent Search Skill Building was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on March 3 and 4, 2025. The workshop was attended by 60 participants, including participants from Academia, the Department of Intellectual Property (national TISC focal point) and other government agencies.
Project-based approach to establishing national TISC networks
The first part of the workshop focused on highlighting the benefits of joining the global TISC program and explaining the project-based approach to establishing national TISC networks. Key challenges identified by the Department—such as lack of knowledge and skills, limited access to technology and resources, and insufficient collaboration between academia, industry, and government—underscored the importance of a well-structured TISC roadmap. This roadmap serves as a critical tool for planning concrete actions to bridge the gap between the current situation and the country’s vision. Internal coordination with other ministries, including the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, was also emphasized.
Providing an on-the-ground perspective, Ms. Anna May Ramos, Director of the Innovation and Technology Support Office at Adamson University, shared insights from the TISC network in the Philippines.
Enhancing Patent Search Skills
The second part of the workshop focused on building patent search skills, featuring presentations on the value of patent information, search tools, strategies, and key concepts. Participants were also introduced to various resources available to support the capacity building and knowledge development of TISCs, including the Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) program. This initiative, part of Research4Life, provides local not-for-profit academic and research institutions and national intellectual property offices in Cambodia with free access to major scientific and technical journals.
Ms. Anna May Ramos, Director of the TISC at Adamson University, led live demonstrations and exercises on patent searching using PATENTSCOPE. As an experienced patent agent and patent search trainer for TISCs in the Philippines, she brought valuable expertise to the session.