The UAE’s Ministry of Economy has launched a new roadmap for “green intellectual property (IP)” with the aim of fostering innovation, boosting technology localization, and developing new projects in the new economy, environmental sustainability, and circular economy.
The three-month roadmap will enhance the competitiveness of the country’s IP landscape, fostering progress and prosperity and supporting the transition to a circular economy, in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and chairman of the UAE Circular Economy Council, thanked the forward-looking vision of the country’s wise leadership under which the Emirates successfully adopted qualitative initiatives and projects for the intellectual property sector. It has further helped solidify IP’s position as a key pillar for building a strong and sustainable national economy.
“The roadmap is a new step to raise awareness on the importance of adopting green technology and innovation to provide superior services and products that serve the community, as well as enhancing the UAE’s attractiveness to green and sustainable innovations,” the minister added, during a media briefing at its Dubai headquarters.
The new roadmap also coincides with the launch of this year’s innovation month. “We will collaborate with local environmental stakeholders in the country and the World Intellectual Property Organisation to implement all the objectives of this roadmap, providing more enablers and opportunities to motivate inventors and creators to develop sustainable innovations and projects in critical economic areas and sectors,” the minister acknowledged.
The media briefing was set up to spread awareness about the new roadmap for green IP and its vital role in supporting national efforts and strengthening the UAE’s sustainable economy sectors.
During the briefing, Abdulla Ahmed Al Saleh, undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, also underscored the integral significance of sustainability and environmental conservation for the UAE’s cultural fabric throughout its history.
“The nation’s progress has been built upon the principles and foundations of sustainability, which have also reinforced its regional and global leadership in embracing eco-friendly initiatives and solutions,” he stated.
He underlined the Ministry’s commitment to support national projects aimed at promoting sustainability across various economic sectors.
“The new roadmap for green IP aims to promote the adoption of leading digital solutions and advanced technology by individuals, organisations, and companies to produce sustainable products and services that contribute to environmental conservation,” Abdulla Ahmed said in his speech. “Following this roadmap, we are keen to forge new partnerships with the academia and research centres to integrate IP into sustainable innovations and protect the rights of eco-friendly projects and innovations.”
The undersecretary stated that the roadmap plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and creativity in sustainable sectors, while strengthening the UAE’s competitiveness and advancing its standing in key global indicators, such as in the Global Innovation Index (GII).
One of the roadmap’s key objectives is to raise the percentage of patent registrations for sustainable and environmental innovations to 8 percent of the total number of patent registrations in the country.
It will also enhance legal frameworks for protecting patents related to environmental sustainability, as the number of patent applications submitted in the country reached 3,622 in 2024.
The UAE currently ranks first in the region in the global innovation index (GII) 2024.
