Protect before you enter: the IP essentials for Nordic SMEs in Vietnam

​With more than 700 million consumers and a dynamic commercial landscape, ASEAN offers significant opportunities for European businesses. Indeed, ASEAN is the EU’s third-largest trading partner outside Europe, with bilateral trade in goods reaching EUR274.9 billion in 2025. When zooming in the region, Vietnam is the EU’s largest goods-trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral goods trade totalling EUR76 billion in 2025. Its strong economic growth, expanding productive capacity, and deep integration into regional and global supply chains make Vietnam a particularly important market for European companies.

​When exploring a new market and discussing with potential local partners, it is key to secure the intangible assets of your business. You cannot keep the same approach and strategy as applied for the EU. This is where Intellectual Property (IP) awareness and taking appropriate protection measures in due time can make a difference.

​Together with Eurocham Vietnam, the webinar aims to:

• ​Provide an overview of IP and explain its importance for SMEs.

• ​Share tips to establish effective IP protection strategies and which IP assets should be prioritised.

• ​Share common IP pitfalls for SMEs entering new markets.

• ​Provide practical considerations for SMEs about to enter Vietnam.

​Speakers: Mr. Benoît Tardy & Ms. Kahnh Nguyen

​Leap4Growth helps small and medium-sized innovative companies grow internationally, with a focus on Vietnam and Hong Kong. The project is funded by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 and run by partners in Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia.