The UAE Ministry of Economy has signed a contract and a Memorandum of Understanding with Korea Institute of Patent Information (KIPI) to develop its digital patent processing system and enhance the IT infrastructure for intellectual property.

The MoU was signed in Seoul by Mohammed Ahmed Al Shehhi, Undersecretary of the Economy Ministry for Economic Affairs, and Choi Dong-gyou, Commissionr of Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), while the contract was signed by the UAE's Minister of Economy and the head of KIPI.

Under the deal, KIPI, an affiliate of KIPO, will build the UAE ministry's IP administration system to enable the entire patent procedure including application, review and registration, Al Shehhi noted.

The aim of the deal is to meet increasing demand for patent registration. It will enable the ministry to conduct their online patent and design administration, including application submission, examination, registration, and fee payment.

A centre dedicated for examining patents will be set up at the ministry as part of cooperation with Korea's KIPI.