From changing the way businesses search and file for patents and trademarks, to using data analytics on patent information to glean insights, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Ipos) is going all out in updating its business processes.

Ipos chief executive Daren Tang outlines some of its strategies:

Mobile platforms: By next year, Ipos wants to give businesses the option of being able to register patents or trademarks through a mobile application, as well as searching the existing database of patents and trademarks through the mobile platform, as opposed to the website currently.

Online classification: Given the big number of trademarks being registered yearly, Ipos recently moved its entire trademark classification system online, to allow businesses to check if they have classified their trademark correctly. There are 45 classes of trademarks currently.

Self-service: With the online database, this cuts out the need for trademark agents. Businesses now pay Ipos a fee of S$240 — which works out to a saving of S$100 per filing.

Data analytics: By mining data on past patent filings, Ipos can glean insights to predict technology trends to help businesses. Tan Weizhen