Jakarta, 5 June 2026: The ERIA School of Government (So G) held its Third Public Seminar, an open platform designed to promote academic dialogue and knowledge exchange amongst ERIA colleagues, partner institutions, and the broader research community.

By bringing together colleagues and external experts, the seminar aimed to enrich policy discussions, foster institutional collaboration, and strengthen the research of ERIA So G Fellows as they conclude their fellowship period. The event also marked the final fellowship research presentation of Ms Thongmala Keola, the inaugural Fellow of the ERIA School of Government.

The seminar opened with remarks by Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean of the ERIA School of Government, who highlighted Ms Thongmala’s decade of experience in international trade policy and intellectual property (IP) ecosystems. Her research presented a comparative analysis of Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam (CLV), benchmarking their use of IP frameworks against Japan’s experience.

The presentation examined how strategic integration of IP can support export competitiveness and value capture. The study identified distinct challenges across the CLV countries, including governance issues surrounding geographical indication (GI) branding in Cambodia, efforts to address cross-border trademark infringement in Lao PDR, and the need for Viet Nam to capture greater IP-related value within its foreign-dominated electronics manufacturing sector.

A key finding of the research was that the principal constraint is not a lack of legal compliance with international IP standards, but rather the absence of a supportive innovation and commercialisation ecosystem. The study argues that stronger linkages between IP systems, industrial development strategies, and export promotion policies are needed to maximise economic benefits.

The presentation was followed by a lively discussion on the integration of IP into national export strategies, its growing role as an instrument of soft power, and the importance of aligning national initiatives with the broader dynamism of the ASEAN market.

The seminar reflected ERIA So G’s broader efforts to foster an inclusive scholarly community by encouraging fellows to engage with partners committed to addressing regional public policy challenges. Through this programme, ERIA So G seeks to build a network of experts dedicated to advancing regional public interests and supporting community-building in Southeast and East Asia.