Leveraging TIPS for Innovative IP Management and Sustainable Growth

—Chien-Wei Hsu, Quality Manager at Quality Management Department, CTCI Corp., GEB

For CTCI, a leading EPC engineering group in Taiwan and one of the world’s top 100 in the field, "innovation" is not only a core element of its corporate culture but also a key indicator of effective corporate governance. To drive innovation, a comprehensive intellectual property (IP) management framework is essential—encompassing the effective oversight of trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. This framework strengthens innovation and competitiveness, safeguards R&D outcomes, and supports sustained profitability and long-term business sustainability.

To support these goals, CTCI continues to monitor global developments in intellectual property (IP) management and adopts relevant international practices as appropriate. A recent example is its certification under the Taiwan Intellectual Property Management System (TIPS). Focusing on the "Trademark" category, CTCI successfully passed the TIPS Level A on-site audit in October 2024 and was officially certified on February 20, 2025—becoming the first company in the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) services industry to receive this distinction. Building on this achievement, CTCI will continue leveraging TIPS’ "Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)" framework to systematically enhance its IP management system in alignment with its operational strategies and evolving needs. This approach enables CTCI to effectively manage intellectual property output, fortify its IP defense capabilities, and strengthen its core competitiveness.

Building a Management Framework with the Four Elements of T.I.P.S.

In addition to receiving the certification mentioned earlier, CTCI is dedicated to continuously improving its intellectual property management. By applying the four key elements of "TIPS"—Technology, Intellectual Property, Processes, and Strategy—CTCI ensures these areas work together in a coordinated, cyclical manner. This approach helps create a strong, comprehensive IP management framework. Below, we will share insights into each of these four elements: 

Technology Aspect: Innovative Techniques and Efficient Intellectual Property Protection
Technological innovation is the foundation for developing intellectual property and strengthening a company's competitive advantage. During the early stages of new technology development, it is crucial for companies to implement intellectual property strategies simultaneously, preventing technology leakage, replication, or infringement by competitors. Additionally, ongoing technological updates and research investments are essential for maintaining competitive advantage, ensuring products and technologies do not become obsolete, and staying ahead of industry innovation policies. Furthermore, innovative technologies can only be converted into sustainable competitive advantages when effectively protected. With this in mind, CTCI’s adoption of TIPS establishes a comprehensive intellectual property protection mechanism, safeguarding technological achievements from being easily copied by competitors and promoting the commercialization of innovative developments.

Intellectual Property Aspect: Connecting Government Policies and Aligning with International Trends
To foster innovation and R&D, the government has promoted the Industrial Innovation Act. Since 2014, the Financial Supervisory Commission has conducted corporate governance evaluations based on the Corporate Governance Blueprint. In 2020, the "Corporate Governance Best Practice Principles for Listed and OTC Companies" introduced intellectual property management regulations under Article 37-2 and added an "Intellectual Property Management Evaluation Indicator" to the evaluation system. In line with ESG trends, the Taiwan Stock Exchange has adopted the "2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" and, through the "Sustainable Development Action Plan for Listed Companies," assesses their ESG performance. From 2026, the "Corporate Governance Evaluation for Listed Companies" will evolve into an "ESG Evaluation," incorporating the "Intellectual Property Management Evaluation Indicator" under item 2.27.

As a result, adopting TIPS helps CTCI strengthen its corporate governance ranking while aligning with regulations on patents, trademarks, and international standards like ISO 56001:2024 (which governs innovative management systems for IP protection). This ensures that CTCI receives comprehensive IP protection at every stage, from technological innovation to market promotion, enhancing R&D output and brand value domestically and internationally.


Processes Aspect: Process-Oriented Management and Compliance with Intellectual Property Laws
Effective intellectual property (IP) management requires systematic support through a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) process approach, ensuring continuous optimization from R&D and creative applications (e.g., patents, trademarks) to the maintenance and risk control of intangible assets. Clear procedures help safeguard every innovation. Key actions include regularly updating procedural documents, conducting IP audits to assess asset status and value, identifying infringement risks, and determining the need for updates or continued maintenance. Non-strategic IP is reviewed for possible deactivation, allowing resources to focus on high-potential assets and maintain real-time asset oversight.

Understanding regional IP laws is essential to ensure rights are current and compliant, reducing legal risks and maintaining market competitiveness. A dedicated professional team oversees IP matters, while internal training promotes company-wide awareness. Through TIPS, CTCI enhances IP management capabilities—enabling timely responses to IP challenges, strengthening protection mechanisms, and supporting litigation with compliance and evidence readiness. This approach optimizes the IP lifecycle, improves utilization quality, and boosts added value.


Strategy Aspect: Integrating Development Strategies for Long-Term Intellectual Property Arrangement
Intellectual property management should be guided by a clear strategy that aligns with the company's long-term development strategies and governance goals. It should also be adjusted according to market dynamics and competitive conditions, incorporating intellectual property arrangement into the overall business strategy. Thus, a clear strategic arrangement for intellectual property must be designed, from identifying innovative technologies to how these technologies can be transformed into market advantages, including global patent arrangements, trademark brand management, and intellectual property cooperation and licensing strategies, to prepare for international protection of intellectual property. In summary, before expanding operations into new markets, companies should ensure trademark registration and patent protection to avoid intellectual property disputes during business expansion. Different types of intellectual property require tailored management strategies—for instance, actively applying for and maintaining trademarks, strictly safeguarding trade secrets to prevent information leakage, and forming technology patent alliances to protect technological advantages, expand market applications, innovate profit models, secure stable revenue streams, and maximize operational efficiency.

Conclusion

The introduction of TIPS and the implementation of intellectual property management present an opportunity for enterprises to grow steadily in a global business environment filled with challenges and opportunities. CTCI combines the framework of the Taiwan Intellectual Property Management System (TIPS) with an efficient intellectual property protection mechanism, enhancing its existing intellectual property management system through Technology (T), Intellectual Property Protection (I), Process Management (P), and Strategic arrangement (S). Domestically, this lays the foundation for the internationalization of technological services and innovative achievements in intellectual property protection while preventing infringement and avoiding leaks, thereby comprehensively enhancing intellectual property awareness. Internationally, it transforms intangible intellectual property assets into tangible economic value, significantly enhancing innovation capabilities and brand value, consolidating brand image, strengthening market recognition, and protecting the brand from imitation or infringement by competitors. This effectively addresses challenges across diverse markets, reinforcing CTCI’s unique strengths and competitive edge in the global engineering contracting industry. Aligned with the vision of "Catching Waves, Leading Smarter," the entire organization is united in advancing innovative IP management to strengthen sustainable corporate governance.