Intellectual Property Department Hosts Regional IP Finance Seminar at Renaissance Bangkok

The Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), organised a regional seminar on using intellectual property as financial collateral, or IP Finance, on 14 October 2026 in the seminar function room of the Renaissance Bangkok hotel. Over 100 participants attended, including representatives from government agencies, financial institutions, academic institutions, the private sector, Thai valuation associations, and delegations from ASEAN member states, to exchange standards and case studies on intellectual property valuation from international experts.

Ms Jittima Srithaporn, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, delivered a special keynote address highlighting the strategic role of intellectual property in the innovation economy era. She noted that it serves as a mechanism to transform creative ideas, brands, and technology into business assets that help small entrepreneurs and startups access funding more easily. She also stated that driving IP Finance requires building an ecosystem of trust covering valuation, risk management, and mutual understanding among all stakeholders.

Thailand's IP Finance Pilot Project

The Department of Intellectual Property is accelerating Thailand's IP Finance pilot project under the concept of starting simple, learning, and scaling up. It is preparing to take less complex trademarks for trial valuation and use as collateral in actual loan applications in order to collect data and develop standardised valuation criteria, before expanding to more complex types of intellectual property, such as copyrights and patents, in the next phase.

The department plans to establish a joint working group bringing together stakeholders from all sectors, including intellectual property owners, financial institutions, and valuers, to drive IP Finance towards tangible results.

Launch of the ASEAN Guide and South Korean Case Study

During the seminar, international experts shared knowledge ranging from the economic dimensions of using intellectual property to access capital and the analysis of valuation reports to valuation principles from an ASEAN perspective. The event also launched the ASEAN practical guide for understanding intellectual property valuation reports, which will serve as a central benchmark for entrepreneurs, investors, and credit practitioners when considering loan approvals.

The forum also presented a case study from the Republic of Korea on converting the value of content and creative works into financial support mechanisms for the creative economy. In addition, a World Café activity was held for representatives from the public, financial, business, and academic sectors to exchange practical working experiences and jointly analyse the challenges and opportunities of IP Finance in each country.

Next Steps Towards a Unified Regional Standard

The Department of Intellectual Property is preparing to adopt the ASEAN practical guide as a reference standard in cooperation with financial institutions and Thai valuation associations, while advancing under the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2026 to 2030 to establish a unified regional valuation framework. This will help financial institutions consider approving loans backed by intellectual property collateral with greater confidence and pave the way for SMEs to sustainably access funding through their own brands and innovations.

This news is of interest to seminar organisers and hotel professionals looking for opportunities to host meetings and seminars from government agencies and regional organisations, as well as SME entrepreneurs and startups wishing to follow developments in new financial mechanisms that use intellectual property as collateral.