Africa IP SME Helpdesk to support EU businesses on Intellectual Property matters

On 21 October, the ‘Africa IP SME Helpdesk’ will be launched in Rome, under the auspices of the EU-African SME Summit 2021. From this date, EU businesses will be able to find detailed and practical information on African intellectual property matters at the Helpdesk’s online hub, and address specific questions to the Helpdesk.

The new Africa IP SME Helpdesk will raise awareness on IP matters in Africa, including detailed information on the status of IP rights at national level, case studies, training materials, webinars and much more. All this practical information will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better understand and protect their intellectual property rights (patents, trade marks, industrial designs, trade secrets, copyrights, etc.) in Africa. It will also support SMEs in the process of creating, protecting, utilising, administering and enforcing their intellectual property rights across Africa in line with international and European best practices.

In addition, SMEs will be able to submit their own enquiries to the Helpdesk related to the protection of their intellectual property rights in Africa. Intellectual property experts will analyse these enquiries and give confidential advice within 3 working days.

Register at the EU-African SME Summit 2021 and follow the Helpdesk launch online.

The Africa IP SME Helpdesk is established thanks to the support of the European Union and under the management of the EUIPO, through the Intellectual Property Rights & Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) project.