The Ministry of Economy in the UAE has announced a new accelerator and roadmap aimed at significantly reducing the time required to approve intellectual property (IP) applications in the green and sustainability sectors. This move is designed to benefit the community and is part of the UAE’s broader sustainability initiatives, which gained momentum during the COP28 conference held in Dubai in 2023. Dr. Abdel Rehman Al Muaini, the assistant undersecretary for the intellectual property sector, emphasized that the goal is to raise the percentage of patent registrations for sustainable and environmental innovations to 8% of the total patent registrations in the country.

Dr. Al Muaini explained that under the new accelerator program, applications for patents related to green energy or sustainability will be processed in just three months, with a maximum extension to six months. Previously, the approval process could take one to two years. He also mentioned the possibility of a committee reviewing applications to waive the associated fees, further encouraging innovation in these critical areas.

Marwa Al Harmoodi, chief innovation manager and IP expert at the Ministry of Economy, stated that the “Green Intellectual Property” initiative will support innovations in water, solar, wind, ocean energy, and other sustainability fields. This initiative is open to all UAE residents, including educational and research institutions, which will help foster a collaborative environment for sustainable innovations.

The Ministry of Economy highlighted that this three-month roadmap is expected to enhance the competitiveness of the UAE’s IP landscape and support the transition to a circular economy. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the UAE Circular Economy Council, announced plans to work with local environmental stakeholders and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to achieve the objectives outlined in this roadmap. The aim is to provide more opportunities for inventors and creators to develop sustainable innovations in key economic sectors.

Abdulla Ahmed Al Saleh, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, reiterated the invitation to innovators, creators, entrepreneurs, and academic institutions to take advantage of the new roadmap for Green IP. He stressed that the UAE offers a competitive environment for IP and related activities, encouraging the adoption of leading digital solutions and advanced technologies to create sustainable products and services that contribute to environmental conservation.