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This year's theme, "Promoting Green Innovation", emphasises the importance of intellectual property (IP) to advancing the development of green technologies and eco-friendly products that support a healthy environment and promote sustainable agricultural and economic development.

We are in a period of heightened concern about both climate change and the global economic crisis.

Historically such challenges have sparked innovation, presenting new opportunities to benefit from intellectual property. By encouraging enforcement of trade rules, including intellectual property protection, we can support innovative industries, create new jobs and solve global challenges.

Creative individuals and industries continue to generate solutions for some of the most difficult problems that face the world today. Intellectual-property protections help foster environments in which creativity and innovation can thrive and contribute to economic development and improved quality of life around the world.

In Thailand, His Majesty the King has initiated and developed many pioneering projects that have received patents in Thailand and abroad.

These innovations - which include the development of artificial rainmaking technology under the Royal Rain Making Project and the invention of the Chaipattana Aerator for improving the quality of water in polluted sources - have created a better life for the people of Thailand and the world.

As an inventor and an artist with over 20 patents and 19 trademarks to his name, His Majesty is a strong advocate of intellectual property.

Recognising his role as an active proponent of intellectual property as a tool for innovation and development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation presented His Majesty with its first Global Leader Award on January 14.

Innovation is at the heart of civilisation. The pursuit of new knowledge is at the centre of the human spirit and is what led Thomas Edison to invent and develop technologies like the light bulb. The US IP system allowed others to build upon Edison's work by granting him patent protection that allowed him to reap financial benefits for his significant contribution to society.

We must ask ourselves: Who are the Thomas Edisons of today? Where are they? And, how do we ensure that IP protection is in place to encourage their innovative spirit and support the safe and secure distribution of technologies to those who desperately need them?

In his inaugural speech, US President Barack Obama reminded us that "our minds are no less inventive" and "our goods and services are no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year".

As we work to address global challenges such as the current international economic crisis, climate change and clean energy, we must redouble our efforts to encourage and protect intellectual property rights and foster a robust environment for global innovation.