Policy optimization of the Belt and Road and IP performance of Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Noureldin, Mohamed; Ateya, Asmaa; Moussa, Samira; Muhideen, Sayibu Article Policy optimization of the Belt and Road and IP performance of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Research in Globalization Provided in Cooperation with: Elsevier Suggested Citation: Noureldin, Mohamed; Ateya, Asmaa; Moussa, Samira; Muhideen, Sayibu (2024) : Policy optimization of the Belt and Road and IP performance of Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Research in Globalization, ISSN 2590-051X, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Vol. 8, pp. 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2024.100215 This Version is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/331139 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. 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This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/4.0/). Policy optimization of the Belt and Road and IP performance of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Mohamed Noureldin a , * , Asmaa Ateya b , Samira Moussa b , Sayibu Muhideen a a School of Public Affairs, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China b Department of Mass Communication, Kafr Elsheikh University, Egypt ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) Intellectual Property Performance (IPP) Regional Cooperation Geopolitical Economic Environment ABSTRACT This study analyzed the relationship between intellectual property protection (IPP) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economic policy optimization performance in the Middle East and North Africa MENA-China strategic geopolitical activism for regional collaboration. The study employed a descriptive qualitative method with secondary data from WIPO IP between 2002 and 2021, and it focused on variables such as IP application, GDP, school enrolment, and FDI in four countries (Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria). A regression analysis of interest with a reliable Common Effects Model (CEM) using the IBM statistical package was used. The regression applied statistical association of IP application in all four countries with BRI optimization. The BRI is a vital support relationship for allied countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. However, it does not make a difference to fine-tune regional optimization of BRI in Algeria and UAE with IP application and school enrolment. Egypt’s BRI delivery shows IP, FDI, and school enrolment are statistically significant, with regional GDP estimated. The data normalized in Saudi Arabia with income growth predicted statistical significance to GDP, FDI, and school enrolment. Likewise, Algeria shows that FDI was constantly affected but was negative to FDI and GDP with respect to BRI. For policy direction, we recommend that governments have regional collaborations and partnerships with Chinese educational scholarships and for dynamic economic expansion in IP applications. BRI’s aptitude in regional connectivity is aimed at high standards of IP cable networks internationally, taking advantage of geographical and economic diversification. The BRI could further facilitate optimized IP trade obstacles and free trade zones. While the regional partnership will facilitate access and protection of products, brands, and services, agree in principle with China BRI before signatories. 1. Introduction The 21st Maritime Silk Road is called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Without geographical boundaries, the BRI attracted international attention and was prominent among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. BRI has won positive global responses and symbolized the historical motivations of the ancient Silk Road trade (Cheng, 2019) between China and the world. This further opens up Chinese inter-trade collaborations and open-world economic systems (Cheng, 2019). With vast economic diversification, balanced trade liberalization, and sustainable development across MENA, there is a pathway for regional cooperation. The optimal protective relativity of IP events is strengthening and safeguarding products and services of business models for information on a target market. According to the China database, by the end of 2020, Middle MENA had signed 202 agreements with 138 nations and 31 international organizations geared towards BRI. MENA has witnessed several technological infrastructures and trade partnerships but has been left at the mercy of MENA IP challenges and the policy optimization of BRI. Building on the IP report from WIPO, some major sectors, such as MENA IP performance, are yet to find a relationship with BRI and the steps BRI countries can take to achieve a breakthrough (Kordvani, 2021). (2021) further found that 59 percent of MENA participation and 71 percent of China’s participation, as well as legal and regulatory risk, is a major concern of BRI and relevant to the IP performance index. Intellectual Property Protection (IPP) In this context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economic policy optimization performance, we examine the MENA-China relationship with the strategic incentive element for regional cooperation and collaboration (Zhu & Sun, 2023). BRI’s economic policy optimization process and production with * Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (M. Noureldin). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Research in Globalization journal homepage: www.sciencedirect.com/journal/research-in-globalization https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2024.100215 Received 2 November 2023; Received in revised form 15 March 2024; Accepted 15 March 2024 Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 2 competitive initiative are undergirded by the Chinese ideology of “hide our strength and bid our time” in FDI trade zones and their trade engagement with others across the sub-regions (Yu, 2019). However, international IPP optimization strives to influence governmental policies in the face of globalization and on the scale of BRI initiatives that have been assertive internationally. Several well-functioning IP initiatives are meant to facilitate the management of national and international context of economic development strategies. A crucial question is raised to understand the BRI IPP concept in trade liberalization within this MENA region. The question is, “How is the BRI unique in operating the IPP economic growth, protection, and trade bill of the Middle East and China”? This study endeavors to fill the gap in economic trade-balance estimates in the context of the BRI economic development of four selected economies in the Middle East. An increased emphasis on international norm-setting IP supports China in countering external pressures from the European Union and the United States (Yu, 2019). In this process, the BRI policy of regional cooperation plays a significant role in increasing the optimization level of national strategic trade policy. A plethora of literature has discussed IP innovations and protections based on partnership, operational management, and political and cultural agreement (Xia & Chen, 2023). The “National Intellectual Property Strategy Outline” was issued to foster innovative institutions and market environments, stimulate economic innovation, and discipline IP misconduct. China and regional IP knowledge, administration, and application skills have facilitated international relations with increased economic development across nations (Qayyum et al., 2022). BRI economies actively share and engage with one another on intellectual property rights, which are carried out along the BRI rules with diversity and complexity across regions. They stress the flexibility of collaboration under respect, inclusivity, and diversity. According to the research on the Mechanism of the Influence of Intellectual Property on Regional Economic Development, IP promotes regional growth, promotes enterprises’ awareness of innovation, improves their competitiveness, and promotes the rapid growth of regional economic development (Shichor, 2018). This paper provides insights into economic growth under the BRI operationalization of IPP in-the-frontier collaboration and the agreement to protect intangible assets between China and Middle East regional cooperation. Moreover, a prolonged trade agreement signed between countries can be linked with the realization of economic transformation and sustainable development (Fernandes et al., 2021). Regional intellectual property exchange has emerged as an innovative practice. Intellectual property is an important indicator of regional strength, and intellectual property cooperation can accelerate the sustainable development of economies and improve the efficiency of economic operations, which can promote systemic reforms for import and export to increase competitiveness. This is so because the intellectual property system is vital in promoting BRI cooperation and developing and enhancing IPP legal systems in countries along the Belt and Road is critical. Furthermore, China has consistently encouraged the establishment of the BRI for IPP cooperation mechanisms in recent years. A trade secret is bounded by IPP value; the management of a trade secret is similar to a bilateral trade agreement between nations. For that, China has had an open-door policy through BRI for the past 15 years, ever since she joined the World Trade Organization, which has increased her international trade and export market. Interestingly, China’s importing tariff is relatively low, and it is projected that the effective import tariff rate will continue to remain low as more Free Trade Agreements are signed. Free Trade Zones are constructed in the Middle East (Zhang et al., 2018). Previous research on IPP has found that privileged access to the US market under the African Development and Opportunity Act (AGOA) fueled early growth in African exports (Farole, 2011). As a result, this perspective is reinforced by China and African nations from the Middle East. This study focuses on Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. Furthermore, Zhang et al. (2018) studies argued with a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and Chinese macroeconomic data from 2012 to examine the impact of additional reductions in Chinese import tariff rates on significant economic indicators. According to the model results, a balanced international payment underscored that a decrease in tariff could raise GDP and resident consumption, both imports and exports and simultaneously increase trade surplus and government revenue. China’s Choice of IPP under the Belt and Road Initiative to ease the concern of the Middle East trade tariffs was first proposed by the concept of regional intellectual property integration under the BRI. It was also believed that international dialogue should be established based on smooth and two-way communication for a win–win partnership. Apart from the global trade IP application, the number of variables facilitating government policy for tariff reduction of the BRI economic zone has soared due to scholarships, FDI, and IP industrial trade agreements. Literature has utilized IP applications as a measure of productivity and the financial edge of some countries (Gu, 2021; Xia & Chen, 2023), and the existing empirical studies on this discourse revealed that the distribution of intellectual property rights (IPR) between China and economies along the BRI has expanded in both directions. Also, the number of patent applications made public and granted by Chinese firms among BRI countries grew by 29.4 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively, in 2021 (Qayyum et al., 2022). A panel data model technique is the most straightforward since it integrates only time series and cross-sectional data (Zulfikar, 2018). This approach does not consider time or particular dimensions; hence, it divides data into sections. Because time and individual dimensions are not included in this model, it is presumed that the IPP application data will be consistent throughout time. This method may estimate the panel data model using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) or least squares methodology. The explained study variables of interest and others include GDP, FDI, IP application, school enrolment, and income growth as the outcome. To begin, we estimated the coefficients of each variable using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique and the Fixed-effect (FE) model. From the findings, overall trade mobility and export and import growth adjustment significantly influence the number of IP applications for sustainable BRI development. Levy-Carciente’s (2020) legal and political environment methodology proves institutions’ participatory strength in the aspect of IPP application as a ‘rule of the game’ among citizens. This was an aspect of realizing the influence of sustainable development and BRI protection of market trade agreements. 1.2. Collaboration theory and cooperation Collaboration is concerned with an acceptable understanding of principles and abstractions generated from IP interfirm and intergroup levels. This study is guided by the collaboration theory (CT), observing the principle of multiple groups and individual entities working for strategic alliance (Colbry et al., 2014) in mutual trust. The ideal context of the Collaborative idea (CT) is built on two major collaborative activities significant for IP protection relative to MENA and China. The first category, individual entities, comprises three causal themes: turning, seeing or acting, and status-seeking. The second category, Teamwork, has three causal themes: influencing others, organizing work, and fostering group cohesiveness (Colbry et al., 2014). This second theme can be associated with managerial and leadership actions, in light of this suggested, is coordinated well with policy optimation of IP protection for trade collaboration between MENA regions and China BRI (Colbry et al., 2014). (2004) studies also utilized collaboration as elusive and contextual cooperation to put it into practice and analyze it precisely. Further, An increasing number of entities are collaborating to address complicated social issues relevant to IP performance and protection. Most likely, deliberate inter-organizational collaboratives (i.e., strategic alliances) identify the collaborative effort as the principal strategy for reaching desirable short and long-term goals that would not M. Noureldin et al. Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 3 otherwise be reachable as organizations functioning individually (Gajda, 2004). With the help of integrated time series and cross-sectional data from a reliable source, known as intellectual property statistics, which is a globally significant trend in policy, business, and technology, our paper analyzed developing countries under the BRI, specifically from four Middle East economies using a methodology developed from an online portal that offers access to WIPO’s substantial statistical data on global IP operations (WIPO, 2021). The data indicated that IPP application among the selected Middle Eastern economies showed a U-shaped concerning FDI, GDP, and others about aggregated measures with annual growth along the BRI. The U-shaped refers to a nonlinear relationship between the variables of interest, particularly the income growth (dependent variable), due to some analytical methods assuming an underlying linearity of purpose leading to bias in estimations. Simonsohn (2018), with a predicted U-shaped correlation, frequently demonstrates that the influence of x is positive for low x values but negative for high values and vice versa. U-shapes are almost solely assessed using quadratic regressions, which impose an arbitrary functional form assumption that can result in a 100 % false-positive rate. The study employs the Robin Hood algorithm to fix the breakpoint between the lines. This study used WIPO international statistics data to estimate the impact of IPP policies on economic recovery activities that are similar to U-shaped incentive BRI policies used by China and the Middle Eastern economies. The IPP policies for the four selected nations have two goals: to boost output recovery for post-COVID-19 economic metrics such as GDP, school enrollment (scholarships), FDI, IPP on trade agreements for industrial growth, and to raise the degree of commercialization across borders. As a result, the BRI and IPP efforts here involve two key components: intergovernmental IP protections and post-pandemic operationalization for economic growth. Consequently, the following research questions must be addressed: Q1. How does BRI policy optimization affect IP application output for economic recovery in the Middle East? Q2. How does IP application policy operationalization impact economic growth metrics in a geopolitical environment through BRI? This study aims to investigate the influence of WIPO statistical operations and Intellectual Property (IPP) protection on worldwide innovation using data from the PatStatl database. The proposed study aims to research the following topics: (1) the factors of national IPP in BRI applications and bilateral agreements in China and the Middle East economic recovery plan. (2) China’s innovation is driven by importing knowledge and trade rather than creating its capabilities. The significance of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road for Transportation and Global Supply Chain in the Twenty-First Century has been phenomenal. The United States, Western Europe, and Japan appeared to have initially embraced China’s BRI because they believed the BRI could help promote Chinese overseas investment, notably in infrastructures, and thus enhancing regional inter-connectivity, and also because they expected the BRI to engage China more deeply in established regional norms and institutions (Shichor, 2018). 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Data source and descriptive analysis The study was operationalized with WIPO IP web-based statistical data on events with a particular interest in IP application, annual GDP, and FDI to the MENA countries, which include Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. The study employed qualitative method data sourced from the WIPO’s IP address: https://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/ with already validated measures of GDP per annum, school enrolment; however, BRI was incorporated external measure and national IP data center (WIPO, 2021). The secondary is settled due to already reliably validated data. The secondary data has established validity and further explored specifications for analysis (Fahrisa et al., 2023). The extracted data from the WIPO database times series between 2002 and 2021 informed the study decision from World Development of the World Bank analysis. Therefore, a panel data approach combines the time series and cross-sectional data (Zulfikar, 2018). Multiple-linear regression was formed in IBM-SPSS to achieve predictive outcomes (Steenkamp & Maydeu-Olivares, 2021; Hayes, 2017). The time series was assigned to BRI and accommodated from diverse intercepts in this study, which was also modeled from heterogeneity. Different intercepts have caused the shifts in interactivity and incentive cultures when estimating model regression using respected variable techniques to reflect the differences in outcome. No common method bias was found based on BRI associated with previous studies. 2.2. Variables measurements The study extracted data from the WIPO panel between 2002 and 2021, emphasizing variables including IP application, GDP, FDI, income growth, and school enrolment (WIPO, 2021). The definitions of all considered variables are provided in Table 1. In contrast, Table 2 descriptively explains all the key variables in consideration, including BRI, per the study’s statistical data covering all the types of indicators mentioned. Due to the adopted literature for BRI, no potential CMB is anticipated (Fuller et al., 2016). The following indicators: patent, trademark, utility models, and industrial designs make up annual IP per GDP (USD), BRI (Inn), school enrolment (SE), GDP, and FDI time series estimation. Upon written request for data initiated, the study was authorized via email of data collected from WIPO and indicated, as well as through the World Development and World Bank (WIPO, 2021). The data was sourced from WIPO’s IP address: https://www.wipo.int/ipstat s/en/ and therefore, already reliably validated measures of GDP per annum, school enrolment; however, BRI was incorporated external measure and national IP data center (WIPO, 2021). The study also observed that the culture of religion was significant to the study. MENA economies deem BRI as a long-term model for future relationships with China. BRI has encapsulated cultural and religious differences, making China regulations more attractive (Kordvani, 2021). The African Intellectual Property Organization is concerned about the MENA economies. The WIPO is still responsible for the accuracy of data and, as such, no CMB (WIPO, 2021; Organization, 2022). In this study, we applied multiple linear regression, as shown below. Equation Model Y=a+b χ 1+c χ 2+d χ 3+ ε (1) Table 1 Explained variables. Variables names Explanations References Dependent variable BRI (Innovation) China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) development strategy aims to build connectivity and cooperation across national economic corridors encompassing the Middle East. (OECD, 2018) Independent variableIP application (gdp) The international ratio of WIPO standards (Statistical Commission, 2022) FDI (fdi) The international ratio of WIPO standards (Statistical Commission, 2022) School enrolment (sen) The international ratio of WIPO standards (Statistical Commission, 2022) Income growth (incg) The international ratio of WIPO standards (Statistical Commission, 2022) Source: WIPO IP application https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/. M. Noureldin et al. Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 4 BRI(Inn)it =β0+β1gdpit +β2IPit +β3senit +β4Xit + ε it (2) BRI(Inn)it =β0+β1IPit +β2Xit + ε it (3) The equation above was to test the impact of BRI innovation on the following economies (Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE) based on linear regression statistical methodology, covering the period from 2002 to 2021 in the Middle East. The subscript i represents the individual regions, and t represents times per year. The dependent variable, BRI (innovation), is a long-term economic and political strategic investment, a factor of China’s bilateral and multilateral Silk Road relationships with developing countries. According to the OECD, the world infrastructure gap constrained trade openness and prosperity (OECD, 2018). The BRI participating economies include Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, and the UAE geared towards economic growth, foreign direct investment (fdi), and Export trade and education. Therefore, the BRI innovation intends to influence and give weight to connected state cooperation for the mutual trade route of the Silk Road. The other variables referred to as gdp are the measure of IP per year time and per country (in USD), industrial designs, utility models, and transactions to GDP (%), all indicators from WIPO. Vector X offers yearly data on local GDP (gdp), FDI flow (ifdi), and school enrollment (Qayyum et al., 2022). On the one hand, the data source for this research has already been validated and is expected to have no Common Method Bias problem. Consequently, multiple studies have indicated that any secondary data from WIPO is credited with reliable and valid designs, has a substantial trade effect, and contributes to income growth. Regional participants collaborated in international economic activities, likely to enhance FDIrelated activities and trade manifestation. Table 1 shows all the adopted variables, which are explained with references indicated. The assertiveness of China at the regional and global level is a notable profit economic development for win–win cooperation. Table 2 descriptive values show all the panel extracted variables of interest, even though the estimation and the linear regression are likely to be endogenously affected in the equation due to some of the BRI innovation trends impacted by the Western influence and the dynamics of the study objectives of the expected interrelated relationship between BRI and IP application for GDP income recovery and sustainable development. Table 2 on percentiles shows an increase from 2011 to 2021 on each time series scale. By adding BRI as an integrated time series factor, the study shows a dynamic panel-data model approach in equations 1 and 2 above, aimed to estimate the effects of variables on linear regression scale mode of endogenous variables and predictor effects. Considering this study’s objectives, we emphasized the proxies of BRI against predicting IP applications for predetermined outcomes. Using a path analysis design, data underwent wrangling by using IBM-SPSS for statistical linear regression to determine the interrelationship of predictors and predict variables of interest to evaluate the causal model. Significantly, the effects of the difference between these predictors and predicting models predetermined the estimated impact of the research questions. Scholars can better comprehend the causal relationship through path analysis and modeled equations. In this study, the represented variables are not considered from a theoretical view but through relationships of estimations (Cain, 2021). This contributed to showing and demonstrating how predictors and predicting variables of causality estimates affect each other. We employed IBM-SPSS for regression path analysis and evaluation (Pierce, 2003). 3. Results analysis The study combined the estimation processes of linear regression model estimations with polynomial meeting assumptions for a valid result. The researchers found that linear regression is appropriate if and when the predictor is at a continuous level and the predicting variables are also at a constant level (Cohen, 1992). Also, there is a need for a relationship between the predictor and predicting variables; this is estimated by using a scatter plot to check the visual linearity of the study. If the displayed relationship is non-linear, a non-linear regression analysis with a polynomial regression or “transform” the data is advised. Some assumptions should not indicate significant outliers, and independent observation should be made using the Durbin-Watson statistic. In addition, the visual linear regression must show homoskedasticity with variance along the line of best-fit indication and normally distributed (Kumari & Yadav, 2018). The methodological analysis used describes linear regression with possible satisfaction of predetermined estimations. Cohen (2013) explained that the displayed relationship between the predictors and predicting variables showed some significant p-values (see Table 3). Firstly, model 1 from Table 3 shows Algeria’s path coefficient (β = 1.073**, t =39.496, p <.005) and school enrolment (β =-0.038*, t = -2.275, p <p <.040). We found that the scholarship in the school. Enrolment is negatively significant in IP applications; this indicates a strong relationship between BRI and IP level of engagement. Furthermore, Table 3 estimated income predicted the considerable impact on intellectual property application (β =0.480**, t =2.323, p <.032) with an R 2 variance of 0.232. The magnitude of the effect of income per GDP is positively associated with IP application through innovations of the Silk Road. The study method examined the performance of the global economic sectors and policymakers’ principles of IP application. The study discovered gaps and a lack of ample literature on the performance of IP application initiatives in the region of African policymakers (Farole, 2011). With a 95 % confidence interval measurement parameter of all the market approaches to develop a Middle East trade agreement with BRI. Again, the estimations from model 3 in Table 3 show that INCOME is significantly associated with IP application (β =5.340**, t = 2.876, p <.012), FDI (β =-0.515*, t =-2.372, p <0.032), and IP application (β =-4.587**, t =-2.526, p <.023). Similarly, the BRI significantly impacted IP applications in the United Arab Emirates and Table 2 Descriptive Statistics of the Study. Variables % Time-series BRI Intellectual Property application GDP (USD) School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) FDI (USD) INCOME/USD/Month N Valid 20 20 20 20 19 20 Mean 2011.50 17.60 223.57 32.40 5.70 270.60 Median 2011.50 17.00 235.85 31.00 6.39 248.50 Std. Deviation 5.916 10.985 103.287 4.198 3.510 109.142 Variance 35.000 120.674 10668.302 17.621 12.319 11912.042 Minimum 2002 2 79 27 0 119 Maximum 2021 36 404 40 12 456 Percentiles 5 2002.05 2.10 78.88 27.05 −0.48 119.55 25 2006.25 6.50 113.15 30.00 2.80 172.50 50 2011.50 17.00 235.85 31.00 6.39 248.50 75 2016.75 27.50 304.98 35.00 8.14 370.25 95 2020.95 35.90 402.20 40.00 455.90 M. Noureldin et al. Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 5 Egypt (β =0.923**, t =16.971, p <.005) and INCOME (β =0.080, t = 1.467, p <.161); the latter shows no difference between the estimations. However, the R values that represented the correlation of the outcome indicated a high degree of correlation. Likewise, the R 2 shows the total variances of all dependent variables 98 %, 58 %, 24 %, and 2 % of BRI (UAE), INCOME (Egypt), INCOME (Saudi Arabia), and BRI (Algeria), respectively. Because of the high degree of variances, BRI is identified as the predicting effect of IP application in the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia but not Algeria. Hence, the positive impact of IP means that BRI brings together the Middle Eastern economies and fosters collaboration, becomes a good initiative to improve the region’s economic development, sparks a prospect of post-COVID-19 recovery, and revives failed economies. The results also indicated that school enrolment has a positive and beneficial effect on developing economies and the Chinese government’s BRI scheme. Significant results also indicated in correlation Table 4 that WIPO’s panel data between 2001 and 2021 showed an associated correlation with p <.005**. This indicated sufficient ground to prove the level of significance of BRI against all the predicting variables mentioned. The OLS indication estimates a path coefficient with high positive effects of IP and school enrolment above FDI and GDP. Based on careful calculations, we concluded that the correlation from Table 3 is significant regarding the bilateral and multilateral agreement on the international ground perceived as the performance level of economic development among the four selected Middle Eastern countries on a generalized basis. Table 4 shows the zero-correlation of all-inclusive variables, with interest in the relationship between the outcome and predictors. A correlation coefficient is from zero, indicating the strength of relationships among the variables. The results show that the variables are indicative of the matrix, thus showing the table of correlation coefficients of all variables, as shown in Table 4. The highly positive correlation coefficients between BRI and others are (GDP =0.882, sen = 0.927, fdi =0.577, and income =0.970). Significantly, the innovative application of BRI on IP application is picture-perfect, facilitating connectivity of Middle East collaboration for economic development. All the highlighted variables in Table 4 indicate a high positive correlation coefficient to the outcome. Also, all the correlated coefficients in the diagonal are equal to 1, showing that each variable is perfectly correlated to itself. The correlation matrix serves as a linear regression diagnosis and a path coefficient summary. 4. Discussions This study assumed a better contributory role in augmenting some of the assertiveness in BRI at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and WIPO with the international community and developing economic market needs. Following the secondary source data from WIPO, ChinaMENA will enhance multilateral and bilateral collaboration with the RQ. RQ1. How does the BRI policy optimization affect IP application output for economic recovery in MENA countries? Firstly, RQ was found to Table 3 Path coefficient from the linear regression evaluations with estimations. Model 1 Algeria Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t-value P <.005 95.0 % Confidence Interval for B β Std. Error β Lower Bound Upper Bound R 2 1 (Constant) 2001.828 0.248 8084.194 0.000 2001.293 2002.363 0.124 Intellectual Property application 0.325 0.008 1.070 39.495 0.000 0.308 0.343 GDP (billion USD) −0.001 0.001 −0.011 −1.060 0.308 −0.002 0.001 School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) −0.015 0.007 −0.038 −2.275 0.040 −0.030 −0.001 FDI (billion USD) 0.010 0.007 0.009 1.418 0.180 −0.005 0.026 INCOME/USD/Month 0.000 0.000 −0.032 −1.336 0.205 −0.001 0.000 Saudi Arabia β Std. Error β Lower Bound Upper Bound 2 (Constant) 736.989 47.218 15.608 0.000 637.787 836.190 0.235 Intellectual Property application 8.527 3.670 0.480 2.323 0.032 0.816 16.238 Egypt β Std. Error β Lower Bound Upper Bound 3 (Constant) −212348.569 73893.211 −2.874 0.012 −369848.221 −54848.918 0.577 BRI 106.185 36.917 5.340 2.876 0.012 27.497 184.872 FDI (billion USD) −16.430 6.928 −0.515 −2.372 0.032 −31.196 −1.664 Intellectual Property application −49.479 19.591 −4.587 −2.526 0.023 −91.237 −7.722 United Arab Emirate β Std. Error β Lower Bound Upper Bound 4 (Constant) 2000.089 0.421 4753.737 0.000 1999.202 2000.977 0.989 Intellectual Property application 0.959 0.056 0.923 16.971 0.000 0.840 1.078 GDP (billion USD) 0.004 0.003 0.080 1.467 0.161 −0.002 0.009 Significant is @ **p <.005 and *p <.001. Table 4 Zero-correlation matrix. Variables BRI Annual (yearly) Intellectual Property application GDP (billion USD) School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) FDI (billion USD) INCOME/USD/ Month DV Annual (yearly)BRI 1.000 1.000 0.883 0.927 0.577 0.970 Intellectual Property application 1.000 1.000 0.882 0.931 0.579 0.973 GDP (billion USD) 0.883 0.882 1.000 0.750 0.525 0.817 School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) 0.927 0.931 0.750 1.000 0.683 0.955 FDI (billion USD) 0.577 0.579 0.525 0.683 1.000 0.636 INCOME/USD/Month 0.970 0.973 0.817 0.955 0.636 1.000 Sig. (1tailed) Annual (yearly) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.005 0.000 Intellectual Property application 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.005 0.000 GDP (billion USD) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.011 0.000 School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 FDI (billion USD) 0.005 0.005 0.011 0.001 0.002 INCOME/USD/Month 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 M. Noureldin et al. Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 6 significantly affect IP applications but not GDP. At the same time, the FDI was negatively significant to income growth, as shown by multiple regression (Table 3). Based on these outliers and high leverage points from Table 3, we found unusual points of negative effects. The multiple regression targeted MENA countries and found an inverse effect in Algeria and Saudi Arabia but a positive one in Egypt and the UAE. Consequently, the balanced observation of case diagnostic/standardized was deleted using SPSS. We further observed outliers using a measure of influential observations (Cook’s Distance). BRI(Inn)it =β0+β1it +β2it + ε it (2) From the variables elaborated in equation (2), Y represents BRI as constant, and the predictors IP application, the intercept, and residual error were appropriately distracted. The changes in IP application (β ¼ 1.07, p <.005**); GDP (β ¼-0.011, p <.308); sch (β ¼-0.038, p <.04*); FDI (β ¼-0.038, p <.08) and income (β ¼-.032p <.20) as a positive coefficient value is only IP application. Hence, outliers show unusual predicting BRI, which is sufficient evidence that the mode satisfies the multiple linear regression conditions. Fig. 1 of this study, presenting Egyptian panel data from the WIPO database across patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and gdp, shows a high degree of trademark over-time analytics. BRI is joining in efforts with Brazil and India in their major push for standard policies to enable developing countries economic development. Nonetheless, the IP application regime can assist China’s BRI in developing international standards that meet developing countries’ collaborative and negotiated future IP treaties or resolve IP-related WTO disputes (Yu, 2019). The IP application from the study shows a high degree of sufficient significance in both linear regression and performance illustrated in Fig. 2. However, the development of BRI remains unclear in terms of how IP can benefit economically. Unfortunately, there is a limited scholarly conversation on how BRI can impact IP for economic benefits. Interestingly, this current study from the research questions evaluates the IP application on various economic recovery through BRIs. Likewise, the trademarks showed a high degree of significant levels of income development. Fig. 2 shows that IP and GDP showed a significant upward increase in blue and orange color from 2004 to 2014. Furthermore, GDP increased exponentially from 2006 to 2020, as shown in Fig. 2. Undoubtedly, the BRI has connected well with developing infrastructure and scholarships strategically and significantly. To our knowledge, the July 2016 conference in Beijing was themed on ’ work together to prioritize IP as a system to promote innovation and to share the benefits of innovation (WIPO, 2016).’ BRI collaboration and IP connection contribute sufficiently and assertively to cooperation in IP-related services, synchronization of IP rules and agreements, inter-operability of databases, and joint human resources training and technological advancement (WIPO, 2016). The 2017 signed memorandum of understanding between China and WIPO is known through careful analysis as international cooperation Fig. 1. WIPO IP application on a variety of events. M. Noureldin et al. Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 7 building and regional IP agreement with developing countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, to mention a few. BRI contribution is a timely boost to post-COVID-19 economic recovery initiatives for developing economies. Hence, Fig. 2 corroborates that IP application and GDP are indicators of the high level of BRI development. The WIPO statistics show that China’s initiatives and IP applications stood behind the USA’s. The quantitative approach contributed by the study is acclaimed for its data-driven and policy-focused to merge high-level cooperation in geopolitical explorative static and dynamic economic growth with FDI trade zones. The analysis of the connectedness of BRI with IP application evaluates the short-term through FDI efficiency along with the BRI instrumental policy dimension (scholarship, export-trade agreement, infrastructure development). Thus, static economic outcomes and dynamic economic outcomes include technology transfer, integrated domestic economics, and ultimate structural changes in free-trade openness (Auriol et al., 2023). This is consistent with the study of Fan et al. (2016), which applied a stochastic frontier gravity model with FDI breakdown. The study findings resulted in China’s outbound FDI being mutual objectives with policy criteria while significantly constrained by some artificial impediments that frontier corporations can overcome. According to the predicted FDI cooling efficiency, China has enormous external FDI potential in BRI countries. China’s external FDI efficiency has shown a constant upward trend in both FDI supply and demand over time. Although China’s outbound FDI performance varied between developing countries and periods, there were no major performance disparities between the BRI (Fan et al., 2016). The objective is to fulfill the gap of constraints through IP applications to cement international and regional cooperation for efficient gdp, fdi, and income growth with the Gulf regions along the Silk Road. Results reported by Zhonghua et al. (2020) suggest that improving IP applications through the BRI is an inherent requirement for developing countries to benefit from a strong frontier collaboration and the construction of intellectual protections. Furthermore, equation (1) highlighted all the variables in the study for linear assessment of the path coefficient. Thus, RQ2: How does IP application policy operationalization impact economic growth metrics in a geopolitical environment through BRI? BRI(Inn)it =β0+β1−0.011it +β21.070it +β3−0.038it +β40.009it + ε it (1) Consequently, the linear regression model representation evolved around gdp, IP, and sen, and all were statistically significant except income growth. Although sen was negatively significant with p <.04. While gdp shows a negative path coefficient but significantly found IP application, nonetheless, the results indicate that fdi showed no difference in Algeria panel data. This is connected to China BRI integrated high-level nominal performance with national FDI and export with global experience. Using WIPO’s database suggests good performing indicators for the Middle East and North Africa with dynamic economic outcomes through IP performance operationalization. The recent trends Fig. 2. Explorative assertiveness of IP performance in Egypt and the UAE. M. Noureldin et al. Research in Globalization 8 (2024) 100215 8 mark China’s engagement with intellectual property governance to unlock all geopolitical barriers for smooth economic collaboration with developing countries (Cheng, 2019) and sustain economic win–win optimization. The government has maintained its interest in working with efforts to take the lead in intellectual property discussions at the Regional Compressive Economic Partnership. They seek to emerge as a model exporter, focusing on IP capacity building under their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and BRICS IP arrangements. This research also believes that BRI has a more unique and unified approach in its responsive engagement than in its active engagement. The BRI is more assertive in forming protective coalitions against developed nations’ proposed norms than pushing its IP policies regionally with pluralism. BRI attitudes in these protection partnerships are characteristic of a developing country’s pro-development orientation (Cheng, 2019) and international cooperation. All statistical analyses were performed using linear repression path coefficient and Common Effect output with panel data from WIPO between 2002 and 2021, focusing on the Middle East and North African countries encompassing Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UEA. The study from each region found with BRI in Algeria shows that only IP application and school enrollment were statistically significant. For Egypt, findings show that the area is satisfied with IP, FDI, and school enrolment except for gdp and income growth. It was normalized in Saudi Arabia where income growth predicted statistical significance with gdp, and school enrolment. Likewise, the UEA shows FDI at constant, and none of the variables were statistically significant. Objectively, the study has satisfied its IP application for high-standard economic partnership and is consistent with the dynamic economic outcome of the BRI governmental sector. This study recommended that government collaborations and partnerships focus on long-term IP applications in major economic development sectors. BRI attitudes should be an open door aiming at achieving high domestic and international IP performance standards. The Middle East and North African regions must define their interest in partnership with China BRI with specific dynamism in signing agreements for win–win achievements. 5. Conclusion This paper examined and evaluated the recent impact of BRI on IP applications using panel data from the WIPO database from countries including Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. We discussed the predictive needs of BRI international and regional collaborations for MENA using multiple-linear regression panel data between 2002 and 2021 with interesting findings. As shown in Table 3 of the linear regression associated effects, BRI indicated a statistical path coefficient with IP application and school enrolment when analyzed with Egypt panel data. A significant difference was found between BRI and FDI, IP, and school enrolment regarding analysis with Algeria. This result is important at the p <.04, 0.05, and 0.03 levels, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between BRI and all predicting variables in the study, as shown in Table 4, with a zero-matrix correlation. The tests revealed a weak path coefficient of FDI as constant against GDP, IP, and BRI. Firstly, the emerging BRI is a vital nexus point for FDI and a freetrade zone between China’s developing countries aiming to unravel regional cooperation and infrastructural agreements with IP applications embedded. The BRI is an investment strategy that leverages resources across developing market infrastructure projects for geopolitical benefits. However, this investment strategy is now drifting away from conventional countries such as Russia and Africa and toward Saudi Arabia and the Middle East terrains (Dana, 2022). What is more intriguing is how the BRI has morphed into a conduit for Chinese geopolitical influence, concentrating on the Arabians. Secondly, The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been on the approved list of BRI countries. The BRI is a vital support relationship for allied countries such as Pakistan and Egypt. The BRI has played a critical role in Pakistan’s Gwadar port and pipeline project and Egypt’s Suez Canal Area Development Project. Saudi Aramco was exploring methods to become a publicly listed company, and Chinese investors stepped up governmentbacked investments, eager to purchase substantial economic interests. At the same time, China landed $5.5 billion worth of deals in Saudi Arabia as part of rapid reallocation away from Russia and towards the Middle East regions, highlighting the BRI’s suppleness. To sum up, The Belt and Road Initiative is part of China’s long-term efforts to gain a strong presence in GCC as it strives with the US for global hegemony. BRI partnership effort at a crucial stage for the Middle East and North Africa region’s economic recovery would undoubtedly move Beijing’s ambition closer to considering the BRI as a method of linking the global economy to China with IP applications. Hence, policy optimization remains achievable through BRI interrelationships with developing countries. Recommended policy direction; government regional collaborations and partnership with Chinese educational scholarships; and for dynamic economic expansion in IP applications. BRI framework can enhance regional connectivity aimed at high standards of the IP network for business model innovation, taking advantage of geographical and economic diversification. The BRI could further facilitate IP application on trade optimization and open free trade zones. BRI is part of the regional partnership to facilitate access and expansion of products, brands, and services agreed with China in principle and can enhance free trade agreement initiatives. Ethical approval: Researchers adhered strictly to the Helsinki Declaration on Human Research, and participants’ information was handled according to global standards of ethics. The participants of this survey consented to participate in this study. CRediT authorship contribution statement Mohamed Noureldin: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Methodology, Data curation, Conceptualization. Asmaa Ateya: Investigation. Samira Moussa: Resources. Sayibu Muhideen: Software. Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. References Auriol, E., Biancini, S., & Paillacar, R. (2023). Intellectual property rights protection and trade: an empirical analysis. World Development, 162, Article 106072. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106072 Cain, M. (2021). Structural Equation Modeling using Stata. Journal of Behavioral Data Science, August. https://doi.org/10.35566/jbds/v1n2/p7. Cheng, W. (2019). China engages with the global intellectual property governance: the recent trend. 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