At the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property Education on November 28, the WIPO Academy outlined three key strategies to promote innovation in Southeast Asia: training educators and policymakers in intellectual property (IP), helping each country develop its own curriculum to international standards, and transferring models for direct classroom implementation.

During the plenary session, Vietnam’s Smartschool was the only local representative to present a case study titled “The Ripple Effect – Successful INCIPE Implementation in Vietnam,” showcasing how WIPO’s model was successfully localized and scaled across Vietnamese schools.

Altaye Tedla, Director of the WIPO Academy, emphasized that linking STEM education with innovation and IP is crucial to equipping younger generations with the thinking skills and entrepreneurial mindset aligned with developed economies. “We are living in a knowledge economy,” she said. “Intangible assets are part of daily life. It’s essential that every product and service is connected to intellectual property.”

She also pointed to Vietnam’s Resolutions 57 and 71, which prioritize science and technology education and broader youth access, calling them “among the most important things a nation can do for its students.”

Smartschool: The most localized innovation education model in ASEAN

According to WIPO, Smartschool has built the most deeply localized innovation ecosystem in the region. Its STEM/STEAM curriculum is based on patented Vietnamese inventions such as heat-resistant greenhouses, multi-purpose forest firefighting vehicles, modular flood-resistant houses, and oil-filtering fabric for environmental cleanup.

Smartschool complements these lessons with digital learning materials, teacher support software, and hands-on kits tied directly to real patents - making it accessible even for schools in remote areas. A national teacher training system and school-based innovation competitions form a complete cycle that lets students fully engage with the innovation process.

“Smartschool doesn’t just teach STEM - it integrates innovation, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship. Students don’t just study inventions; they refine models and propose business ideas. It’s a true expression of the knowledge economy,” said Altaye Tedla.

WIPO’s independent expert, Pushpendra Rai, praised Vietnam’s vibrant education ecosystem, calling it ready to absorb and adapt global models. “The level of localization in Smartschool is rare in ASEAN,” he remarked.

From theory to hands-on innovation

A key highlight of the event was a live demonstration at Ta Quang Buu Secondary and High School, attended by WIPO delegates and representatives from 10 ASEAN countries. In just 60 minutes, 7th-grade students experienced the full innovation cycle through a lesson centered on greenhouse design.

Starting with a real-world problem faced by Vietnamese farmers, the students explored the role of greenhouses in agriculture and examined a patented solution recognized by the National Office of Intellectual Property. They then identified key innovation concepts, following the problem–idea–solution model.

After analyzing the existing greenhouse prototype, the students proposed improvements and pitched small-scale startup ideas based on their redesigns. “It was the first time we got to study a real patent and improve a working model. It made learning easy and exciting,” one student shared.

Many delegates commented that this model requires minimal investment, aligns with the current curriculum, and can be implemented widely - even in under-resourced schools.

A model for the region - and a chance for Vietnam to lead

Following the session, several ASEAN delegations expressed interest in piloting Smartschool in their own countries. This, experts noted, proves that Vietnam is not only absorbing global educational models but also ready to share best practices regionally.

Pushpendra Rai highlighted Vietnam’s strategic advantage, noting that the country currently ranks number one globally in high-tech exports as a share of total exports, at 36%. “Vietnam must build on that strength and cultivate creativity from a young age. Innovation should become a way of life,” he said. He recommended guiding students to channel ideas into viable solutions, then feeding them into incubators and the market.

Altaye Tedla added: “Implementing this program is not as difficult as it seems… What matters most is a shift in mindset - not only for children, but also for policymakers. It begins with reimagining Vietnam. Once that happens, integrating INCIPE - Innovation, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and IP - into classrooms becomes easy.”

She concluded, “With its smart, energetic young generation, Vietnam has every opportunity to shine as a leader in innovation education in the region.”

Thai Khang