More than 300 new jobs were created in the intellectual property (IP) sector last year, giving a boost to Singapore's ambitions to become a leading centre for IP activity.

The legal industry recruited 68 lawyers to practise IP law and the technology industry recruited about 100 IP managers, said the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Ipos) in a statement on Friday.

In addition, IP service providers added more than 80 new patent and trademark agents as a result of more research and development offices being established in or relocated to Singapore.

Ipos also noted that 54 more business consultants started practising IP, adding to the business advisory service sector.

"There is a healthy interest and confidence in Singapore's IP and innovation landscape," said Ipos in its statement.

The pace of job creation was driven by higher demand for IP services, with more high-technology companies - especially in the chemistry and biotechnology sectors - coming to Singapore, Ipos added.

Total trademark applications have risen about 15 per cent in the last two years, while patent applications by locals have gone up about 6 per cent.

Last year, Britain and France located their regional IP offices in Singapore, a statement of confidence in the Republic's IP regime, said Ipos.

"We are enthused by the improved condition and good jobs created in the IP industry in Singapore," said Ipos chief executive Tan Yih San.

"This is a strong indicator of various efforts undertaken to shore up the IP industry as we move towards a knowledge-based economy."