EUIPO supports Zambia launching online IP filing system

The EUIPO has provided its expertise and technical assistance to Zambia's Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), paving the way for the successful integration of PACRA into an advanced online intellectual property (IP) filing system, a triumph for innovation and efficiency, and demonstrating the EUIPO's leading role in promoting IP awareness and protection worldwide.

As of 6 May 2025, PACRA is proud to offer a selection of its services through a streamlined IP filing platform developed by the EUIPO, in the context of the Africa Intellectual Property Rights & Innovation project (AfrIPI), marking a significant milestone in the country's intellectual property landscape and showcasing the EUIPO's commitment to supporting the development of regional IP frameworks.

In an exciting move to bring Zambia’s IP processes into the digital age, PACRA has launched its brand-new IP online filing system, developed alongside experts from the EUIPO, and facilitated by the AfrIPI project, which is designed to simplify and speed up the trade mark application process and increase efficiency for businesses and citizens, ultimately creating a business environment more akin to that EU businesses find in Europe.

Innovators and businesses in Zambia, and those looking to do business in the country, can now easily file their trade mark applications online, thanks to the EUIPO's collaboration with Zambia, which is part of a broader initiative to modernise regional IP systems, foster knowledge exchange, and advance their shared mission of enhancing IP services and promoting innovation.

This move aligns Zambia with the global trend towards digitalisation and demonstrates the country’s commitment to creating a favourable environment for protecting and managing intellectual property, with the new system expected to make processes simpler, faster, and more accessible, and setting the stage for the introduction of other services in the coming days, ushering in a more efficient and technologically-driven IP landscape in the region.

The EUIPO, recognised as a leading actor in the global IP landscape, has collaborated with Zambia through the EU-funded IP cooperation ‘AfrIPI’ project, to achieve this milestone, and will continue to support the development of IP systems in Africa, promoting IP awareness and protection, and fostering innovation.

The system can be accessed via this link https://iponline.pacra.org.zm/sp-ui-tmefiling, and the EUIPO invites all interested parties to explore the new online filing system and take advantage of its features, which will contribute to the growth and development of businesses and innovation in Zambia.