In the particular context of a developing country, the problems arising from a lack of awareness of intellectual property in universities in Thailand is described. These problems include a poor negotiating position in formulating licensing and like agreements, especially in relation to such agreements with developed countries. The situation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical areas is highlighted, for example the formulation of pharmaceutical products with active ingredients related to those present in traditional medicines. Improvements at the universities proposed to address these issues embrace setting up intellectual property departments within each university and substantially increasing the level of intellectual property awareness in both under- and postgraduate courses.