Business & Money | Thursday 13 October, 2016 5:59 am |

The race to win the 9th edition of the Dubai Customs’ Intellectual Property (IP) Award for Schools and Universities kick-started yesterday (Wednesday, October 11) across the UAE.

The 2016-2017 award cycle was announced at a press conference held in Dubai Customs head office, in the presence of Saeed Al Tayer, Executive Director of Policies and Legislation, and Yousuf Ozair Mubarak, IPR Director at Dubai Customs.

Students from across UAE schools and universities with worthwhile projects and initiatives relevant the issue of intellectual property are encouraged to submit their entries for diverse categories of the award that has become a popular recognition amongst local academic institutions.

Raising awareness of IPR protection among youngsters is the main goal behind the award, as counterfeits pose an immense threat to consumers’ health and the national economy.  

Saeed Al Tayer said that over the past few years the Dubai Customs’ IP Award for Schools and Universities has served its purpose of involving students of all ages in the fight against counterfeiting. 

“I would like to thank the Ministry of Education for their long-standing support to the award. The level of awareness reflected in the research papers and projects submitted by students makes us very proud of what we do,” remarked Al Tayer. 

Dubai Customs pays utmost attention to IPR protection. To address this phenomenon, the department is relentless when it comes to cracking down on IPR infringements at borders as well as carrying out awareness campaigns of the matter jointly with brand owners. 

“We aim to create the right conditions for investment. Ensuring businessmen and investors that their brand names are safe in Dubai is definitely an incentive for them to base their operations here,” added Al Tayer.

In the first six months of 2016, Dubai Customs’ seizures of IPR infringing goods mounted to 95, with an estimated value of about AED 38.4 million.   

On his turn, Yousuf Mubarak pointed out that any trading activity of counterfeits is punishable by law. “We take it upon our shoulders to educate the community about how dangerous counterfeits can be. Personal safety is not something that anyone can take lightly,” he said.

Back in 2008 when it was launched for the first time, the Dubai Customs’ IP Award targeted school students only. It was later expanded to include university undergraduates as well.

“Students from 130 schools and 22 universities contended for the nationwide IP award between 2008 and 2015, with a total number of beneficiaries touching 88,000,” added Mubarak.

Dubai Customs thanked Nikon, the leading supplier of technologies and solutions in various fields, for generously sponsoring the new award cycle.

Also present at the press conference, Nikon’s Regional Manager for Client Satisfaction, Tariq Abdul Rahman, said, “Dubai Customs goes the extra mile to raise a generation of young men and women who are well-aware of their role in the fight against fake goods. We are happy to partner with Dubai Customs in this fight. Thank you for allowing us to be a key supporter of this distinguished award and the values its represents.”