Annual Report 2014-15

32 FHKI Annual Report 2014-15 guest at the opening ceremomy of four international design exhibitions jointly organised by Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), IVE (Lee Wai Lee) and design institutions and museums from Sweden, Germany and Switzerland at the HKDI Gallery, d-mart and Experience Centre. DCHK was also one of the strategic partners of the Global Design Network Symposium, one of the BODW programmes held in December. Design masters from Sweden, India and Singapore were invited to share their experience on how emerging design talents were nurtured and how the design industry was promoted in their respective countries. SME’s representatives and local designers were invited to discuss possible collaborations at the Open Dialogue cum luncheon. Protecting Intellectual Property Rights With over 20 years of professional experience, the FHKI’s Intellectual Property Centre (IPC) assists local and overseas companies to process registration of trademark, patent, design, and copyright depository in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. It also provides free consulting services to SMEs, entrepreneurs, designers and the general public to better protect their IP. During the year, the number of enquiries handled doubled to over 900. With the support of the IPC, the FHKI’s Hong Kong Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights organised various events to raise IP rights awareness. In tandem with the government’s efforts to develop Hong Kong as Asia’s IP trading hub, the IPC has worked closely with various statutory bodies and government departments in organising a number of IP-related seminars. In January 2015, the IPC co-organised a seminar, entitled “Boosting Domestic Sales - Latest Consumer Trends and Development of e-Commerce in the Mainland”, with the Trade and Industry Department, during which speakers shared their experience in protecting IP in the Mainland. In addition to providing advice on preparation work for the “Business of IP Asia Forum” held last December, the IPC participated in 11 international exhibitions organised by the HKTDC with a view to providing information and consulting services concerning IP rights to exhibitors and visitors. Last May, the International Trademark Association held its annual meeting for the first time in Hong Kong. The IPC made use of the opportunity to exchange business information and enhance cooperation with our foreign partners and associates. Operational Review Enhancing Competitiveness The launching of the Hong Kong D-Mark Certification Scheme; meeting with internationally renowned artist Paulo Grangeon (upper right) 「香港D嘜設計認證」計劃啟動禮； 與國際知名藝術家Paulo Grangeon 交流設計理念（右上）