Opportunities for Advancing IP Education and Research in Africa
March 14, 2024
The second editions of the WIPO-WTO Colloquium for Intellectual Property (IP) Teachers, Academics and Researchers in Africa, and the IP Scholars Africa (IPSA) Conference, will be held in-person at the University of Cape Town, South Africa from August 5 to 9, 2024. The WIPO-WTO Colloquium Africa is scheduled from August 5 to 8, 2024 and it will be followed by the IPSA Conference on August 9, 2024.
IP teachers, academic researchers and Ph.D. candidates with teaching experience in IP are encouraged to apply by May 15, 2024. Early applications are recommended as spaces are limited. Selected applicants will go on to participate in the Colloquium and present their research papers to peers at the IPSA Conference on the last day.
Register for the WIPO-WTO Colloquium Africa
Both opportunities are jointly organized by the WIPO Academy, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat and the University of Cape Town.
What will the Colloquium cover?
The WIPO-WTO Colloquium provides IP academics from Africa a platform to:
- enhance their understanding of international developments in IP law and policy;
- share comprehensive updates on the status of WIPO and WTO agreements;
- foster insights on current activities in both organizations relevant to the African region;
- map existing IP teaching and scholarship in the region; and
- facilitate debate and collaboration among the academic community in Africa.
What is the IPSA Conference?
The IPSA Conference offers researchers from Africa the unique opportunity to:
- present their works-in-progress on the latest topics in the field of IP,
- network,
- exchange ideas, and
- gain constructive feedback from peers.
The Conference includes plenary and parallel sessions, alongside keynotes and panel discussions with senior scholars and officials from international organizations.
Who can apply for the programs?
Candidates with an advanced degree and teaching experience in IP law or international law / economics / management with a specialization in IP, who are fluent in English and have Africa-focused IP research on the following themes are eligible to apply:
- Recent developments in IP Laws and regulations within WIPO and WTO;
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs);
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);
- Innovation and technology adaptation;
- Climate change and environmentally friendly technologies;
- Traditional knowledge and genetic resources;
- Frontier technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and business;
- Global public health (including the COVID-19 pandemic and diversifying production of vaccines and other key technologies); and
- Building capacity of universities to transform ideas into tangible assets.
Affiliation with an academic institution or research center is an essential requirement to qualify for the IPSA Conference.
How to apply for the WIPO-WTO Colloquium?
IP teachers and researchers are welcome to apply for the WIPO-WTO Colloquium Africa by submitting an online application through the WIPO eLearning center by May 15, 2024.
Register for the WIPO-WTO Colloquium Africa
How to apply for the IPSA Conference?
Applications for the IPSA Conference must be sent by May 15, 2024 to the administration with “Submission to the Second IPSA Conference” as the subject line. A short abstract of the research (500 words or less) including the title of the paper, and a short biography (200 words or less) including a recent picture, should be attached to the application email as two separate word files.
There is no paper publication requirement to present at the Conference, but presenters are invited to submit papers for consideration to the South African Intellectual Property Law Journal.
Are there any registration fees?
Please note that there are no registration fees for participating in the WIPO-WTO Colloquium Africa and the IPSA Conference. However, admitted participants are expected to cover their own travel-related and accommodation expenses, in addition to bearing responsibility for obtaining and covering the costs related to their travel such as visa(s) and any other necessary travel documents.
Scholarship opportunities
WIPO and WTO are offering up to 20 scholarships for participants wishing to participate in both the Colloquium and the Conference. Scholarships cover travel expenses and accommodation, excluding visa costs and medical insurance. The best candidates will be selected for the scholarship, from the applications received, based on work experience, academic excellence, and publications.
Key dates
Applications for the WIPO-WTO Colloquium and the IPSA Conference will remain open until 11:45 pm Central European Standard Time on May 15, 2024.
Applicants will be informed if their application has been accepted the programs by May 30, 2024. Accepted applicants should confirm their participation by June 10, 2024.
Participating in both programs is not a requirement and individuals wishing to only attend the WIPO-WTO Colloquium Africa or the IPSA Conference, without committing to both events, can do so by completing an application only for their program of interest.
Students, including those on Master’s Programs and Master of Laws (LL.M.) in IP, who wish to participate in the IPSA Conference can apply by June 7, 2024 to attend as non-presenting observers. Spaces for non-presenting participants are limited, so selection will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apply to the IPSA Conference as a non-presenting participant