Dong Thap: Stepping Up Support for Intellectual Property Development

(DTO) - In recent years, Dong Thap Province has focused on implementing a wide range of measures to support the development of intellectual property (IP) assets for businesses, cooperatives, and local residents. Beyond brand building and the registration of trademarks or geographical indications, IP development has helped enhance the value of agricultural products, improve competitiveness, and expand market opportunities for local products.

STEPPING UP SUPPORT FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

In the context of increasingly deep economic integration, intellectual property is considered one of the key factors helping businesses and production and trading establishments strengthen their position in the market. 

For this reason, Dong Thap has actively promoted activities that generate intellectual property assets, gradually laying the foundation for enhancing the value of local products. 

Alongside communication and awareness-raising efforts on intellectual property rights, the province has placed particular emphasis on guiding organizations and individuals in registering industrial property rights with the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam. 

As a result, businesses, cooperatives, and local residents have become increasingly aware of the importance of trademarks, industrial designs, and inventions. 

In 2025, Dong Thap recorded 153 industrial property applications filed with the National Office of Intellectual Property and 185 protective certificates granted, including 178 trademark registration certificates and 7 industrial design registration certificates. 

These figures demonstrate the growing interest of organizations and individuals in protecting and leveraging intellectual property assets in production and business activities.

Beyond establishing intellectual property rights, Dong Thap has also focused on improving the effective utilization of these assets. Following the provincial merger, the new Dong Thap Province now has four geographical indications (Cao Lanh mango, Cat Hoa Loc mango, Lo Ren Vinh Kim star apple, and Dong Thap lotus), along with 32 certification trademarks and 15 collective trademarks serving production, business development, and local image promotion. 

According to Ms. Nguyen Doan Thanh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Department of Science and Technology, support for the protection and development of intellectual property assets for the province’s key and distinctive products has been implemented in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. 

At the same time, science and technology projects under both national and local intellectual property development programs have been carried out in line with planned schedules. 

The establishment, management, and development of community-owned agricultural trademarks have gradually produced practical results, helping increase the value of the province’s key products while expanding market opportunities. 

Notably, the proactive efforts of localities to seek protection for their signature products reflect both strong commitment and proper direction in developing agricultural brands. 

As a result, organizations and individuals have gained a greater understanding of the role and importance of trademarks, contributing to innovation and enhancing the value of local products. 

CONTINUING TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND ENHANCE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

Despite the progress achieved, intellectual property activities across the province still face a number of challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. 

Many production and business establishments remain hesitant to use certification trademarks or geographical indications. 

The main reason is that, in order to meet the requirements for obtaining authorization to use these trademarks, producers must invest additional resources in production processes, traceability systems, and quality control measures, resulting in higher production costs.

Meanwhile, the preference of some consumers for lower-priced products has made it more difficult for products bearing trademarks or geographical indications to compete with similar products that have not been registered for protection. 

In addition, although many collective economic organizations have been established throughout the province, their role in supporting the management and development of community brands remains limited. 

This is because many organizations lack the resources needed to guide and assist members in accessing and effectively utilizing intellectual property rights, as well as participating in the protection of shared brands. 

In response to these challenges, Dong Thap has identified the continued promotion of intellectual property development support programs in the coming years. According to Nguyen Doan Thanh Tuyet, the province will continue implementing key tasks under the Intellectual Property Development Program through 2030. 

At the same time, it will coordinate the implementation of nationally approved science and technology projects under Decision No. 2205/QD-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister on December 24, 2020. 

The province will also carry out support policies for economic organizations under Resolution No. 34/2025/NQ-HDND of the Provincial People’s Council, which encourages innovation, technology application, and technology transfer. 

Dong Thap has also set a goal of promoting innovation driven by the utilization and application of intellectual property assets, particularly in the areas of patents, utility solutions, and industrial designs, in line with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. 

In parallel, the province will continue implementing the Intellectual Property Development Program for the 2026-2030 period, linked to key agricultural sectors such as rice, durian, pangasius, mango, and lotus, with the aim of increasing product value and expanding market access. 

One of the province’s major directions is the establishment of a provincial innovation center to promote industrial property rights registration among local organizations and individuals. 

At the same time, the Department of Science and Technology will continue to strengthen its role in assisting residents and businesses with application dossiers, registration procedures, and connections with reputable industrial property representatives to protect and maximize the value of intellectual property assets. 

It is clear that strengthening support for intellectual property development not only enhances the value of local products but also creates momentum for innovation and the development of the agricultural economy towards modernity and sustainability. 

This also provides an important foundation for Dong Thap to further build its image as a dynamic locality with distinctive branded products that can compete in both domestic and international markets. 

By T. DAT
Translated by ANH DUC