IP/C/R/TC/AUS/4  
 
30 October 2023  
(23-7290)  Page: 1/6 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects  of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES:  
INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS  
AUSTRALIA  
The following communication, dated 26 September  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation  of Australia . 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.  Australia is committed to sharing information with other WTO Members on its technical and 
financial cooperation activities in the area of intellectual property rights in fulfilment of Article 67 of 
the TRIPS Agreement.  This is a full report on Australia 's intellectual property -related technical 
cooperation activities with developing and least developed countries. It builds upon annual update 
reports provided in 2012 ( document IP/C/W/582/Add.2) , 2013 ( document IP/C/W/593/Add.7) , 2014 
(document  IP/C/W/601) , 2015 ( document IP/C/W/610/Add.4) , 2016 
(document  IP/C/W/617/Add.1) , 2017 ( document IP/C/W/632/Add.1) , 2018 
(document  IP/C/W/647/Add.2) , 2019 ( document IP/C/W/655/Add.4) , 2020 
(document  IP/C/R/TC/AUS/1) , 2021 ( document IP/C/R/TC/AUS/2)  and 2022 
(document  IP/C/R/TC/AUS/3) . 
2.  Australia fulfils its Article 67 technical cooperation commitment through multilateral, regional and 
bilateral programs and activities. Many activities are focused on developing and lea st developed 
countries in the Indo -Pacific region. Australia works closely with the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat and other 
partners to assist developing and least developed countries to build their intellectual property 
capacity and systems.  
3.  Many of the technical cooperation activities implemented under Article 67 of the 
TRIPS  Agreement align with Australia 's strategic focus on using aid as a catalyst to promote 
economic grow th and poverty reduction. This is embedded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals 
and our future investments, including proposed ongoing support for the WIPO -Australia Funds in 
Trust program, which will be influenced by these goals.  
4.  Websites containing information on Australia 's intellectual property regime, which may be 
considered a technical cooperation resource, include the IP Australia website covering patents, 
designs, trademarks and plant breeders ' rights ( www.ipaustralia.gov.au ); the Attorney -General 's 
Department ( Copyright | Attorney -General 's Department (ag.gov.au) ); and the Department of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade website on international IP developments ( Intellectual property | Australian 
Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au) ). IP/C/R/TC/AUS/4  
 
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  2  AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES WITH THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
ORGANISATION (WIPO)  
2.1  Australia -WIPO Funds in Trust  
5.  Since 2012, the Australian Government has supported the Australia -WIPO Funds in Trust (FiT) 
program, with our support to date totalling AUD 5.8 million. The latest iteration of the program 
(FiT3) concluded in March 2022. The A ustralian Government is currently considering funding 
arrangements for a further phase of the FiT program. FiT promotes economic growth in partner 
countries by helping to develop and implement Intellectual Property (IP) systems, build capabilities 
in IP an d facilitate technology transfer. It has helped to create an enabling environment for private 
sector innovation and domestic and foreign investment. Future programs are likely to build off the 
four current FiT themes: development of the intellectual proper ty system; technology transfer 
(knowledge transfer and commercialisation); addressing neglected tropical diseases; and copyright 
and related rights to assist the blind, visually impaired and other persons with print disabilities.  
6.  FiT3 Activities to support  the development of the intellectual property systems included 
developing a judicial toolkit on IP adjudication ( 'IP benchbook ') for judges and judicial officers. These 
were produced for both the Philippines and Viet Nam. The IP benchbooks are an important  judicial 
resource, serving as a core element of future judicial capacity -building programs for judges and 
judicial officers.  
7.  In 2023 Australia is considering a fourth iteration of a WIPO -Australia FIT (FiT4). As with previous 
FiT programs it will focus on  IP capacity building activities, which enables the development of IP 
systems and supports Australia 's economic diplomacy aims in the Indo -Pacific region. An application 
for FiT4 will consider continuation of activities previously supported and possible ne w opportunities 
for funding.  
3  OTHER MULTILATERAL AND REGIONAL ACTIVITIES  
3.1  Economic Cooperation Support Program and Regional Trade for Development 
Program under the ASEAN -Australia -New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)  
8.  The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D ) Initiative, to which Australia has committed 
AUD 46 million out to 2028, provides technical assistance and capacity building to support eligible 
ASEAN countries realise the full benefits of an upgraded ASEAN -Australia -New Zealand FTA 
(AANZFTA) and the Re gional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. In 2023 
under AANZFTA RT4D committed to a range of IP capacity building activities for female -led 
businesses in Lao PDR.  
9.  From July 2022 to June 2023, IP Australia designed and delivered phase 3 of  the AANZFTA project 
and RCEP scoping. The phase 3 program took a deeper dive into specific trade mark examination 
quality principles that ASEAN IP offices could incorporate in their quality management systems, 
notably: risk -based product sampling, continu ous improvement and training, and customer 
centricity. The objective was to enhance quality management practices, and create greater 
predictability and consistency of examination outcomes across IP Offices in ASEAN. This in turn 
increases market confidence  and encourages greater engagement by businesses who trade in our 
region.  
10.  On 22 -24 November 2022, a regional workshop was held as a hybrid (in -person and online) 
event in Singapore. This workshop combined lessons learnt from earlier phases with practical s teps 
for the implementation of trademark quality management systems. We achieved the workshop 
objectives to build on information sharing and capacity building in ASEAN for trade mark quality 
management systems.  
11.  From February – April 2023, IP Australia cond ucted virtual tailored mentoring sessions as part 
of AANZFTA phase 3. Participants gained a deeper insight into Australia 's trade mark quality 
management practices, and how to address issues currently facing ASEAN IP Offices such as trade 
mark backlogs, an d resourcing constraints. This supports the goal to strengthen and develop IP 
infrastructure in our region, for a more robust ASEAN IP system.  IP/C/R/TC/AUS/4  
 
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  12.  IP Australia conducted a scoping study and gap analysis of signatory countries to identify and 
understand IP issu es under the RCEP Agreement. This assessment sought to determine where 
technical assistance and capacity building could be provided to eligible ASEAN countries to assist in 
implementing RCEP commitments.  
13.  The scoping study contains a preliminary analysis of  IP issues facing RCEP countries. It:  
i. identifies specific areas for improvement or issues within the RCEP region through a gap 
analysis questionnaire;  
ii. analyses responses from the gap analysis questionnaire to develop a comprehensive 
understanding and poss ible solutions to the issues identified; and  
iii. completes an initial gap analysis report, presenting findings and solutions from the 
preliminary study. This report also canvasses further background on IP rights, the RCEP 
Agreement and an overview of each RCEP  country in the form of country profiles.  
 
  
  IP/C/R/TC/AUS/4  
 
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Name of programme or project  International Fund for Cultural Diversity  
Date and end date  1 January 2010  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)   
Brief description  The International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) is a multi -donor fund established under Article 18 of the 
UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005 (2005 
Convention) to which Australia is a signatory. The IFCD promotes sustainable development and poverty reduction 
by funding projects in developing countries that foster the emergence of dynamic cultural sectors, r evitalisation 
of the local economy and create positive social change. The Office for the Arts (OFTA) in the Department of 
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is responsible for implementing 
programs and policies tha t meet Australia 's obligations under the IFCD as a signatory to the 2005 Convention. 
UNESCO calls for member State contributions to IFCD annually. Australia makes voluntary contributions to the 
IFCD where feasible to support Australia 's international oblig ations under the 2005 Convention and demonstrate 
practically its commitment to supporting UNESCO international cooperation and assistance for developing 
countries. Since the IFCD was established in 2010, the OFTA (on behalf of Australia) has made a total v oluntary 
contribution of AUD 555,879. (AUD 103,653 in 2022; AUD 98,201 in 2020; AUD 105,333 in 2018; AUD 88,692 in 
2016; AUD  80,000 in 2013; and AUD 80,000 in 2011) . Beneficiary Members are all member States to the 2005 
Convention.  
Beneficiary institution  or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNESCO  
Outputs or impact  Since 2010, the IFCD has provided more than USD 10 million in funding for 140 projects in 69 member States, 
covering a wide range of areas, from the development and implementation o f cultural policies, to capacity 
building of cultural entrepreneurs, mapping of cultural industries and the creation of new cultural industry 
business models.  
Website for further information  http://en.unesco.org/creativity/ifcd  
Contact point for further information  convention2005.ifcd@unesco.org  
 
 
1 In English only.   
  IP/C/R/TC/AUS/4  
 
- 5 - Name of programme or project  Regional Trade for Development ( "RT4D ") Initiative  
Date and end date  1 July 2023 - 30 June 2028  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People 's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; 
Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam  
Brief description  The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative, to which Australia has committed AUD 46 million out to 
2028, provides technical assistance and capacity building to support eligible ASEAN countries realise the full 
benefits of an upgraded ASEAN -Australia -New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) and Regional Comprehensive Economic 
Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  ASEAN member Sta tes are the audience and official development assistance (ODA) eligible states receive 
support. Non -ODA eligible ASEAN countries fund their own engagement.  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  A mix of Australian, New Zealand and ASEAN member States governme nt agencies and private providers.  
Outputs or impact  Technical assistance and capacity building.  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  Bonita Ko ( bonita.ko@ipaustralia.gov.au ); mdb-international@ipaustralia.gov.au ; Jessica Hal l 
(jessica.hall@dfat.gov.au ) 
  
  IP/C/R/TC/AUS/4  
 
- 6 - Name of programme or project  AANZFTA Enhancement of Trade Mark Quality Management (Phase 3)  
Date and end date  1 July 2022 - 30 June 2023  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People 's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Thailand; Viet Nam  
Brief description  The objective of the project is for beneficiary ASEAN member States (AMS) to gain an in-depth understanding of 
quality and an enhanced capacity to design and implement quality management practices, leading to an 
improvement in the efficiency of IP administration and registration systems in the ASEAN region. Developing the 
processes, tools and systems to support high quality trademark examination and predictable services is a 
common challenge to IP Offices. Some AMS IP Offices have a quality management system in place, some are in 
the process of developing quality management processes and pr actices, while others are in early stages of 
introducing quality principles into office practice. IP Australia, along with the IP offices of New Zealand and 
Singapore, is sharing experiences of quality management, with a view to assisting beneficiary ASEAN  IP Offices to 
develop their own incremental approach to quality management. Phase 3 will enable AMS to explore specific 
quality -based concepts in more detail, including risk -based product sampling, continuous improvement and 
customer -focused service.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  ASEAN member States (excluding Singapore and Brunei who are not Official Development Assistance (ODA) 
eligible but welcome to attend ODA funded workshops).  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  IP Australia is delivering techn ical assistance, supported by the ASEAN Secretariat. Also contributions by the 
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand, and the World 
Intellectual Property Organization.  
Outputs or impact  Output 1: A reg ional workshop was held in November 2022 to provide ASEAN member States with a refresher 
from earlier phases; presentations on the effective implementation of quality management systems; and insights 
on specific quality -related subjects. Output 2: In early  2023, IP Australia worked closely with some AMS to 
conduct virtual tailored mentoring sessions for implementing trademark quality management practices. This 
customised approach recognised differences between IP offices and supported smaller offices with t he strategy 
and implementation of quality concepts. The workshops focused on key issues currently facing ASEAN IP Offices 
such as trade mark examination backlogs, and resourcing constraints, to strengthen and develop IP infrastructure 
in our region, for a more robust ASEAN IP system. Output 3: A report of the Tailored Mentoring Sessions which 
was delivered to ASEAN Member States during February to April 2023. The report provides a preliminary analysis 
on IP issues facing RCEP countries and delivers on three  outputs: (i) identifies specific areas for improvement or 
issues within the RCEP region through a gap analysis questionnaire; (ii) analyses responses from the gap analysis 
questionnaire to develop a comprehensive understanding and possible solutions to th e issues identified; and (iii) 
completes an initial gap analysis report, presenting findings and solutions from the preliminary study. It also 
canvasses further background on IP rights, the RCEP Agreement and an overview of each RCEP country in the 
form of  country profiles.  
Website for further information  https://aanzfta.asean.org/  
Contact point for further information  Bonita Ko ( Bonita.ko@ipaustralia.gov.au ); mdb-international@ipaustralia.gov.au   
 
 
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