The IPTI of Ethiopia Delivers its Inaugural Training Program
August 8, 2024
Following a successful launch in 2023, the National Intellectual Property Academy of Ethiopia, which is a WIPO Academy Intellectual Property (IP) Training Institution established under the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA), delivered its first training program for beneficiaries from June 25 to 27, 2024.
The National IP Academy of Ethiopia organized a training on Branding and Trademark Protection of Ethiopian Products and Services with the support of the WIPO Academy. Twenty-two local business owners and entrepreneurs from small and medium-sized enterprises across national industries, including Ethiopian coffee and tea, completed the program to build practical IP skills they can apply in their professional business endeavors.
While EIPA has a long trajectory of delivering training to different audiences, it is the first time that a training of this kind is offered under the flag of the National IP Academy, relying on its newly certified WIPO Academy trainers.
What did the National IP Academy of Ethiopia’s inaugural training cover?
The training program of the National IP Academy of Ethiopia was delivered in-person and consisted of group workshops, and practical exercises to help build relevant IP skills in trademarks and branding among the participants. Over the three-day training program, participants learned about a range of IP skill areas including:
- The economic impact of trademarks and brands in driving growth for private businesses and national economies,
- The implications of the international framework for trademark protection in Ethiopia,
- Ethiopia’s approach to trademarked geographical indications,
- Empowering Ethiopian brands with strategies for global trademark expansion, and
- The role of trademarks in franchising agreements.
The National IP Academy of Ethiopia will soon conduct a training on “IP Management and Technology Transfer in Universities and Research Institutions in Ethiopia”, which will be announced on the IPTIs Events Calendar for those seeking more information and the registration details.
What the participants are saying?
Understanding intellectual property, particularly trademarks, aids in the protection of valuable company and private assets such as new products, systems, and procedures. It was a privilege to meet and learn from the most seasoned specialists and leading professionals in the field. The skills learned are applicable to the workplace and hugely beneficial in the long term. Thank you WIPO Academy and EIPA for this opportunity.
Mr. Dawit Gebru Tedla, National Participant
I found the training on “Branding and Trademark Protection of Ethiopian Products and Services” relevant and interactive. The topics and the way of accessing them were really engaging to allow participants’ personal experiences to be shared. If the National IP Academy of Ethiopia starts its to deliver regular trainings like this one, it would bring positive change to the creative community and Ethiopian society at large.
Mr. Fikre Tesfaye Hailemariam, National Participant
What are the IPTIs?
The IPTIs are WIPO Academy’s sustainable and scalable solution to tailored capacity building for member states. Through the IPTIs Program, training centers are established to meet local IP training and skills-building needs, empowering beneficiaries on the ground to leverage their creativity and innovation for socio-economic development.