AfrIPI boosts innovation platforms in OAPI member states
In support of the production of inventions and institutional innovations for the benefit of enterprises, and to develop innovation platforms in the OAPI member states, three seminars were organised in the 17 OAPI member countries. The objectives were to boost the implementation of collaborative work platforms between universities / research centres and enterprises, to analyse the ecosystem of innovation platforms in OAPI member countries and to propose the establishment of more innovation platforms in the OAPI region.
The seminars were organised in three rounds, each with a virtual phase, which included all countries, and a hybrid phase, which was specific to each country. The first round was held on 21 April 2022, in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Togo. The second was held on 6 June 2022, in the Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Gabon, Guinea Conakry and Mali. The third was held on 16 June 2022, in Benin, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Niger.
The virtual phase consisted of an opening ceremony with introductory remarks by the AfrIPI Deputy Project Leader, Gregor Schneider, a word from the Representative of the European Patent Office, Gabriel Pecquet, and a speech by the Director General of OAPI, Dénis Bohoussou. These were followed by:
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a presentation of the project’s objectives and the Innovation Platforms Ecosystem Analysis Report by the project consultant, Professor Barthélémy Nyasse;
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a presentation on the European Patent Office’s policies on innovation;
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sharing of experiences and best practices in the field of technology transfer in Europe, and interactions between a PATLIB-type centre and technology transfer centres or SMEs.
During the hybrid phase, participants discussed the project consultant’s report and the proposed platform models. They then formulated an action plan for the establishment and operation of a national platform.
The most prominent project by member states will be presented on the African Day for Technology and Intellectual Property, 13 September 2022.
Related activities: