UAE launches new programme to woo green tech innovators

New 'Green Intellectual Property' road map will halve patent processing time

The new Green Intellectual Property programme is expected to increase the competitiveness of the UAE and attract innovators within the environmental sector. Photo: Radia

In an effort to push to pole position in the green innovation space, the UAE has launched a 'Green Intellectual Property' road map to attract and promote industry advancements in the country.

The initiative will prioritise patents within the green technology and sustainability space, cutting processing time to only three months. Currently, it can take six months to more than a year to file a patent, which is a legal right granted for an invention, offering exclusive ownership. It benefits inventors by ensuring their creations are protected under the law.

The programme is expected to increase the competitiveness of the UAE and attract innovators within the renewable energy sector, as well as other green sectors, to register in the Emirates. It represents a "new milestone", said Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the UAE Circular Economy Council.

"We will collaborate with local environmental stakeholders in the country and the World Intellectual Property Organisation [Wipo] to implement all the objectives of this road map, providing more enablers and opportunities to motivate inventors and creators to develop sustainable innovations and projects in critical economic areas and sectors."

A competitive landscape

No timetable has been set for the duration of the programme. However, Dr Abdulrahman Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at the Ministry of Economy, told The National the conclusion of the programme will depend on how long it takes to reach targets – with the aim of raising the percentage of patent registrations for sustainable and environmental innovations to 8 per cent of the total number of registrations in the country.

The number of patent applications submitted in the country last year was 3,622.

According to Wipo, China, US, Japan, South Korea and Germany top the charts for the number of patents filed. But Dr Al Muaini said from filing a report to patent approval in these countries can take up to a year.

China, US, Japan, South Korea and Germany top the charts when it comes to the number of patents filed. Photo: Wipo

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Abdulla Ahmed Al Saleh, said the new road map aims to offer "the utmost legal protection for innovations, while also meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly innovations locally and globally". According to the latest Global Innovation Index, the UAE is highest in the region in terms of intellectual property and innovation.

Mr Al Saleh has invited innovators, creators, entrepreneurs, institutions and universities to leverage the advantages offered by the new road map for Green intellectual property, highlighting the competitive environment the UAE offers.

The timing of the launch of the new Green Intellectual Property road map coincides with the launch of this year’s Innovation Month. Throughout this month, UAE Innovates 2025 will be held across the Emirates, featuring hundreds of activities and events focused on innovation.