The EUIPO and OAPI launch an intellectual property mentorship programme for African SMEs

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in cooperation with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), has launched a transformative intellectual property (IP) mentorship programme designed to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa, in the context of the EU-funded Intellectual Property and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) project. This initiative is part of the EUIPO's efforts to support SMEs, alongside the #AfricaIPSMEHelpdesk and the SME Fund, and underscores the EUIPO's commitment to advancing IP awareness, fostering innovation, and promoting cross-border collaboration across Africa.

The three-day training programme was held from 28-30 January 2025, at the OAPI headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and was led by the EUIPO, with the OAPI as a co-organiser. The programme is designed to equip IP agents and SMEs in the OAPI region with the expertise and necessary tools to thrive in today’s dynamic and competitive business environment, by training IP agents to support SMEs in unlocking their business potential, maximising the value of their IP assets and leveraging IP for sustainable growth. The first countries to benefit from this training were Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. Participants also received tailored guidance from expert IP consultants from the EUIPO on key topics including: drafting effective IP strategies, safeguarding IP assets, mitigating IP-related risks, and integrating IP into long-term business strategies to drive economic success, highlighting the EUIPO's role as a premier provider of IP expertise.

This initiative combines capacity-building and fieldwork activities, and fosters collaboration among the EUIPO, AfrIPI, OAPI, OAPI National Liaison Structures (SNL), and IP agents, with the primary objective of establishing a robust programme that empowers business advisers and raises awareness among SMEs on the strategic use of IP in the OAPI region, in line with the EUIPO's strategic vision. Following the training, IP agents will mentor selected SMEs using well-defined methodologies and models to ensure practical and impactful outcomes, ultimately contributing to the EUIPO's goal of promoting a business environment more akin to that of EU businesses.

The launch of this mentorship programme underscores the shared vision of the EUIPO and OAPI to empower SMEs in the OAPI region by enabling them to harness the transformative potential of IP and unlock new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and long-term development, and highlights the EUIPO's commitment to supporting the EU's policies on trade, intellectual property, and innovation.