Intellectual property: From assets to competitive advantage

In an economy increasingly reliant on knowledge, technology, and brands, the value of a business lies not only in factories, machinery, or investment capital but also in intangible assets created through innovation. An invention, design, trademark, technical process, or production secret, if properly protected and exploited, can become a long-term competitive advantage.

The Sola mosquito trap lamp, developed by Solar Thermal Technology Joint Stock Company in Long Binh Ward, holds a utility solution patent.

The shift in intellectual property (IP) from registration for protection to management for value creation is becoming an important requirement in sustainable business development strategies.

From valuable products to commercial assets

In their production and business operations, many businesses, cooperatives, business households, and innovative entities possess valuable products, technical solutions, designs, production processes, or trademarks. However, a significant gap remains between having a good product and owning a protected intellectual property asset that can generate economic value.

A product that is well-received by the market may face the risk of another entity registering its trademark first if the trademark has not yet been registered. A technical solution with commercialization potential, if its patentability has not been assessed, may be disclosed or copied, or may lose the opportunity to establish rights. Similarly, a product design that has required significant effort but has not been registered as an industrial design may easily be imitated.

According to experts, businesses need to regard IP as an integral part of their business strategies, rather than merely as a legal matter to be addressed when disputes arise.

In this context, the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee (now the City Party Committee) issued Plan No. 55-KH/TU, dated February 11, 2026, on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation, setting specific goals for IP activities. These include an average annual increase of 16-18% in the number of patent applications and patent protection titles; an annual increase of 12-14% in applications for plant variety protection, with 10-12% of these registered for protection abroad; and a commercial exploitation rate of 8-10% for granted patents.

According to Vo Hoang Khai, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, a notable point is that the goal is not merely to increase the number of applications but also to promote the commercial exploitation of intellectual property assets. This represents a crucial shift, as a protection title truly realizes its value only when the asset behind it is put into production or business, transferred, or used to create a market advantage.

Recently, the Department of Science and Technology has also collaborated with the IP Office of Vietnam under the Ministry of Science and Technology to reach out to and provide in-depth consultations for entities seeking to register trademarks, inventions, and industrial designs. The work focuses on identifying industrial property objects, assessing eligibility for protection, completing dossiers, filing applications, and providing guidance on exploiting assets after protection. This approach helps businesses transition from awareness to action, from ideas to products, from products to assets, and from assets to commercial value.

Competitive advantage

According to Tran Giang Khue, Head of the Representative Office of the IP Office of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, businesses need to change their mindset regarding IP, moving beyond protection to focus on exploiting the economic value of these assets. A trademark, invention, or industrial design should not merely remain in a business's legal files. Such intellectual property should become an asset that businesses proactively manage and exploit, while gradually increasing its value.

For Dong Nai, this requirement is even clearer as its economic structure is shifting strongly toward industries with high technological content, innovation, and added value. A large-scale production base cannot compete solely on land, labor, and cost. Businesses seeking deeper participation in the value chain must possess elements that competitors find difficult to replicate.

O ME GA Science Technology and Applications Co., Ltd. (Tran Bien Ward) provides consumer health care products. The company places strong emphasis on registering its products for intellectual property protection. For instance, its waste treatment equipment has not only been registered for industrial design protection with the IP Office of Vietnam but has also been submitted for patent protection in the United States.

Similarly, Mr Cong Pure Coffee Trading Service Export Company Limited (Long Khanh Ward), despite being a newcomer to coffee production, has made efforts to build its brand. Le Thanh Cong, the company's director, stated, "As these consumer products target new niche markets, the business has proactively undertaken tasks to secure intellectual property rights over its industrial designs and packaging labels, considering this a crucial factor when entering the market."

According to businesses, once IP rights over packaging, labels, and brands have been established, these assets can serve as a basis for technology transfer, licensing, investment cooperation, capital raising, or market expansion. For export-oriented businesses in particular, the protection of trademarks, designs, and inventions in target markets needs to be planned from the outset, rather than waiting until their products have already entered foreign markets.

By Vuong The – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho