The United Arab Emirates has announced that students and young researchers under the age of 21 will no longer have to pay registration fees to file patents. This new initiative, part of the “Patent Hive” project launched by the Ministry of Economy, aims to enhance the patent granting rate and encourage innovative individuals to apply for patents.

The “Patent Hive” project significantly reduces the time required to register patents, bringing it down from 42 months to just 6 months. This improvement supports the goal of increasing the number of registered patents from 4,481 to 6,000 by 2026, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation.

Additionally, the project includes specialized training programs and technical consultations, which are provided by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). These efforts aim to build the capabilities of national talents and increase awareness about the importance of intellectual property.

The launch of the “Patent Hive” project included participation from representatives of universities and research centers across the country, highlighting a collective effort to support and encourage innovators in their patent registration endeavors.

Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, stated that the UAE has made significant progress in developing its intellectual property sector. He emphasized that this sector is crucial for the growth of the national economy and that the country has established a supportive environment for intellectual property protection activities, particularly in patent registration.

Al Saleh also remarked that the “Patent Hive” project will position the UAE as a global center for the new economy and aims to place the country among the top 15 nations in the Global Innovation Index. This initiative is part of a broader intellectual property system launched by the Ministry in collaboration with public and private sector partners.