Sawt Falasteen - Singapore's Tang gets second term at UN's patent agency

The World Intellectual Property Organization's 194 member states reappointed Tang, who was the only nominated candidate, during the agency's general assembly.

Established in 1967, Geneva-based WIPO helps creators and entrepreneurs protect their intellectual property (IP) across borders.

"In my first term, I worked with member states to transform IP from a technical and legal matter into a business, economic and financial asset that helps drive innovation and creativity, and serves as a catalyst for jobs, investments, growth and development," Tang said in a statement.

"For the second term, this work will continue, so that WIPO's IP systems are efficient and effective in serving users, global IP standards continue being updated to meet the needs of innovators and creators in a fast changing world driven by AI, IP continues to be protected and used by millions around the world and harnessed to address global challenges, and IP moves from the periphery to the centre."

Tang, who was previously the head of Singapore's national patent agency, will begin his second term as WIPO chief on October 1.

Last month, WIPO said international patent applications had risen 0.7 percent in 2025 to 275,900 filings worldwide.

China filed the most, with 73,718, ahead of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Chinese tech giant Huawei has been the top filer since 2017, ahead of Samsung, Qualcomm and LG Electronics.

S.Barghouti--SF-PST