Fueling the Engine of Innovation in the Indo-Pacific Region

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The Fulbright Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Program

The Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Program

We are at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region, a vibrant area home to nearly 2 billion people and teems with innovative potential. Despite this dynamism, the region sees a surprisingly low number of patent filings, with the majority originating from foreign entities.
The Indo-Pacific boasts thousands of research-active institutions and a growing venture capital scene. However, a lack of awareness in intellectual property (IP) rights and commercialization of such rights often leads to missed opportunities, which could otherwise enable the adoption and scaling of technological solutions to solve pressing challenges in climate change, environmental conservation, and sustainability etc.

IP serves as a vital catalyst for accomplishing national and regional development objectives at the policy level. Yet, a significant knowledge gap exists among scientists and innovators regarding the protection and commercialization of their innovations. This gap widens due to insufficient support and expertise in navigating the intricacies of IP matters and commercialization. Additionally, the crucial process of technology transfer, which transforms research into market-ready products, is frequently overlooked.

“Fueling the Engine of Innovation in the Indo-Pacific Region” initiative has been launched to bridge the gap and unlock such immense potentials. The Fulbright Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, under this initiative, is a program of the United States (U.S) Department of State (DoS) (Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs), implemented by Fulbright University Vietnam.

We aim to train researchers and innovators from 13 different Indo-Pacific countries. The knowledge and skills they acquire will be instrumental in establishing or optimizing technology transfer offices in their respective universities and innovative communities. In the long run, our program is poised to make significant impacts within and beyond the Indo-Pacific region, increasing Intellectual Property (IP) filings, and boosting technology commercialization.

Our program contains the following components:

Webinar Series: Free virtual seminars on IP and Technology Transfer.
U.S Visits: These transformative journeys involve two cohorts of selected participants from the countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Fiji, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. The visits to the U.S are cornerstone of our program, providing an unparalleled opportunity for immersive learning about IP and technology transfer. This hands-on experience in the global hub of innovation is designed to inspire and equip the participants with the knowledge and networks to drive change in their home countries.
IP Summits: are tentatively scheduled for the ends of 2024 and 2025 that include:
- A virtual summit and
- An in-person summit at Fulbright University Vietnam.

Join us, together we can shape a sustainable and innovative future.

Our Goals

The primary goal of the Fulbright Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Program (Fulbright IP & Tech Transfer) is to promote a general change in attitude towards innovation, research, and development activities in the Indo-Pacific region. This change will enable these activities to truly generate value in real life through IP commercialization and technology transfer.

Fulbright IP & Tech Transfer also offers hands-on experience to the selected participants, helping them understand the intricacies of IP commercialization and technology transfer. The tailored discussions are facilitated using the U.S best practices.

By fostering knowledge exchange and practical training, our program aims to empower researchers and innovators to jointly respond to the Indo-Pacific’s most pressing challenges with confidence. We will invite participants from 13 priority Indo-Pacific countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Fiji, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Our Objectives

The objectives of Fulbright IP & Tech Transfer are:

To educate academic researchers, innovators, and technology managers with relevant knowledge and skills in Intellectual Property (IP) commercialization and technology transfer. They will then be able to efficiently use different mechanisms, professional tools or techniques, as well as the acquired negotiation skills.
To promote establishment and optimization of Technology and Innovation Support Centers in Indo-Pacific countries according to the U.S best practices in IP and technology transfer.

Our Webinar Series

Our complimentary and interactive webinars provide valuable insights on a broad spectrum of topics related to Intellectual Property (IP) and technology transfer. Participants will receive certificates of attendance upon completion of a live seminar.

Please note that all webinars will be delivered in English.

Join us in fueling the Engine of Innovation in the Indo-Pacific region. We encourage you to share your achievement on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Remember to use the hashtags #IP&TechTransfer and #FulbrightUniversityVietnam.

The following “Register here” button will only be available for our latest webinar when it is announced in the NEWS AND EVENTS section.

By registering this, I consent for Fulbright University Vietnam to retain my personal information in accordance with the Privacy Policy with respect to processing users’ personal data, which is in line with Vietnam Government's Decree 13/2023/ND-CP on Personal Data Protection.

Select the upcoming webinar you are interested in and complete its online registration form.

You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar event and a personal access code. Use the link and access code to join the webinar on scheduled date and time.
You can also use your phone to listen to the presentation. Dial-in instructions will be provided in your registration confirmation email.

After attending a live seminar, you will receive a certificate of attendance signed by Fulbright University Vietnam. When registering for the webinar, make sure to provide your correct name, as it should appear on the certificate.

If you or your organization are interested in a specific topic, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us via the Contact tab. We value your input and look forward to assisting you. Let’s continue to innovate together!

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The U.S Visits

The Fulbright Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Program offers selected researchers and innovators from the Indo-Pacific region an educational trip to the United States (the U.S). This trip provides a valuable opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in Intellectual Property (IP) commercialization and technology transfer. Along with other events of the program, it will help participants understand the intricacies of relevant processes. Such understanding will enable them to generate real-world value through their innovations and technologies, based on the U.S best practices. The program covers all costs of airfare, lodging, and meals for participation in required activities during the U.S visits.

There will be two distinct application periods for the two cohorts. The first period invites applicants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Papua New Guinea. The second period invites applicants from Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. One fellow will be selected from each eligible country.

If you have any queries, feel free to email us at indopacific.innovation@fulbright.edu.vn. We are here to assist you!

Apply here

By submitting this form, I consent for Fulbright University Vietnam to retain my personal information in accordance with the Privacy Policy with respect to processing users’ personal data, which is in line with Vietnam Government's Decree 13/2023/ND-CP on Personal Data Protection.

If you are interested in participating in this trip, please follow the steps below.

Steps to apply:

Review the full eligibility requirements and conditions to apply.
Submit your application by the deadline (Vietnam time).
Check for a confirmation email following your submission.
For queries, contact us at indopacific.innovation@fulbright.edu.vn.

The applicant must not submit more than one application for this trip.

Important Notice: The 2024 U.S Visit Application Deadline

We would like to bring your attention to the upcoming deadline for the 2024 U.S visit application. Please note that all applications must be submitted by 5:30 PM (Vietnam time) on May 3, 2024.

The first U.S Visit (tentatively scheduled for July 2024) is open to applicants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Papua New Guinea. One fellow will be selected from each eligible country.
The second U.S Visit (date to be announced) is open to applicants from Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. One fellow will be selected from each eligible country.
Selected participants must complete their commercialization or technology transfer reports of their innovation or technology, along with the program’s survey forms, within one month from the last day of their U.S visit.
Selected participants will be indispensable parts of the development and implementation of the IP Summits.

The applicants must be at least 18 years old.
The applicants are required to have sufficient proficiency in the English language to successfully participate in the program.
The applicant must possess a valid passport with an expiration date at least six months beyond the planned return date from the U.S and be able to provide a copy of their passport immediately upon acceptance into this trip.
The applicant must be a passport holder/citizen of one of the 13 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Fiji, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, or Vietnam; and be eligible to travel to the U.S if selected.
The selected participant will enter the U.S on an Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa under a DoS program and are subject to the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e) two-year home-country residence requirement associated with the J-1 visa. Under this and the program requirements, the selected participant is expected to return to home country immediately following the end of trip to the U.S.
Before applying for this trip, the applicant must read and understand all J-1 visa requirements at DoS’s website and be eligible to obtain a U.S J-1 visa for participation in this trip.

To qualify for these trips, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Applicants should fall into one of the following categories:

Researchers: Individuals actively engaged in research.
Innovators: Those driving innovation.
IP Managers: Professionals overseeing intellectual property matters.

2. Applicants must demonstrate their intent to commercialize research outcomes or transfer green technologies. This can be substantiated by, for instance, a letter of recommendation from their university or institute, a business plan based on research results or innovation, a filed patent application.

3. Alternatively, applicants who already have existing commercialization can provide evidence such as relevant contracts or agreements, sales reports etc.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to us at indopacific.innovation@fulbright.edu.vn.

See more in our News and Events below

The IP Summits

The Intellectual Property (IP) Summits serve as exchange platforms for all delegates, including selected participants of the U.S. visits, experts, and other fellows. During these summits, participants showcase their innovative breakthroughs, share insights gained from their journeys, and discuss practical applications they are either implementing or planning to implement. Importantly, such events facilitate connections, expand the innovation network within the region, and extend their impact globally.

Here are the key details:

A virtual event and
An in-person gathering at Fulbright University Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. The program covers all costs of airfare, lodging, and meals for participation in required activities during this IP Summit.

As part of the U.S Visits’ commitments, selected participants will be required to contribute to the IP Summits, primarily through their reports on IP commercialization, technology transfer, or the application of knowledge and skills get from the U.S Visits.

Should you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to email us at indopacific.innovation@fulbright.edu.vn.

The following “Apply here” button will only be available for the IP Summit when it is announced in the NEWS AND EVENTS section.

Apply here

See more in our News and Events below