Thailand Advances IP-Backed Finance Ecosystem at IMF-World Bank Roundtable

Key summary

On October 13, 2026, Dr. Kiridha Phapichit, Deputy Minister of Commerce, attended a High-Level Roundtable on leveraging intellectual property (IP) and intangible assets to support innovation, investment, and business growth. The event was organized by the European Union Delegation in Thailand, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the Department of Intellectual Property under the framework of the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 (AM2026) at the Sirikit National Convention Center. Dr. Phapichit discussed the topic "Financing Innovation via Intangible Assets: Unlocking Growth through IP-Backed Finance" alongside international experts including Mr. Andrea Di Carlo, Deputy Director General of EUIPO; Mr. Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President of the European Investment Bank; Mr. Malhar Nabar, Assistant Director for Europe and Head of Representation for the Euro Area at the IMF; and Mr. Nicolas Konialidis, Regional Director and Technical Director of the International Valuation Standards Council. Over 150 attendees from government bodies, international organizations, EU financial institutions, private sector entities, ASEAN Secretariat, and ASEAN member states participated.

Dr. Phapichit highlighted that while intangible assets like patents, trademarks, and copyrights are crucial for business value and competitiveness in innovation-driven sectors, accessing finance remains limited due to valuation gaps, lack of mutual understanding among rights holders, financial institutions, and appraisers, and challenges in using data for loan decisions. She emphasized the need to bridge the gap between IP valuation and financing by establishing an "Ecosystem of IP Valuation" that allows reliable valuation for collateral purposes. This aligns with the policy direction of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Mrs. Supachai Jaturapattarawongse, who aims to remove barriers and elevate IP to a viable business asset.

The Department of Intellectual Property is building Thailand's IP Finance foundation in two key areas: 1) Developing IP valuation infrastructure by collaborating with the Thai Valuation Association to align standards with international practices by 2028 (B.E. 2571), and working with financial institutions to develop processes for treating IP as a business asset; and 2) Launching the "IP Finance Sandbox Thailand" pilot project involving SMEs, valuers, and financial institutions to test and refine the system through real-world case studies.

Additionally, Dr. Phapichit underscored Thailand's role in supporting regional strategy under the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2026–2030 (B.E. 2569–2573), which aims to develop a regional IP valuation framework and pilot IP-backed financing projects among ASEAN members. Efforts are also being made to promote the "ASEAN Guide to Understanding IP Valuation Reports" as a common standard for financial institutions and investors across the region to analyze cross-border IP valuation reports.

The roundtable discussion was intensive, with participants agreeing that developing IP-backed finance is an urgent priority requiring joint action on establishing international valuation standards, managing financial institution risks, and strengthening regional connectivity. All parties expressed readiness to support Thailand and ASEAN by sharing best practices, exchanging policy information, and providing technical cooperation to build a robust financial infrastructure and enhance the competitiveness of innovators and SMEs at national and international levels.