November 3 – 5, 2015 (Dakar, Senegal)
The Conference at King Fahd Palace Hotel highlighted the relevance of intellectual property (IP) as an engine for promoting creativity, innovation, scientific and technological transformation of African economies.
Africa has a great tradition of innovation and creativity… and innovation is a central driver of economic growth, development and better jobs. It is the key for firms to compete successfully in the global marketplace… Intellectual property is an indispensable mechanism for translating knowledge into commercial assets – IP rights create a secure environment for investment in innovation and provide a legal framework for trading in intellectual assets.
Francis Gurry, WIPO Director General
Related meetings
- Young African Inventors, Creators and Entrepreneurs Workshop: IP, Innovation and Creativity for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation (November 2, 2015 - Dakar, Senegal)
- African Conference on the Strategic Importance of IP Policies to Foster Innovation, Value Creation and Competitiveness (March 12-13, 2013 - Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania)
Africa innovates
Infographic
Overview of African innovation leaders and achievers based on rankings from the Global Innovation Index 2015.
Download
Special issue
Interview with WIPO DG Francis Gurry on IP for an emerging Africa, and seven stories featuring creators and innovators from the continent.
VIDEO: Brand Africa – AZAM. One Tanzanian firm has nurtured a single brand from humble beginnings to a vast array of products and sales of over half a billion dollars per year. More innovator and creator stories on YouTube.
Participants
Invited participants to the Conference include:
- Ministers responsible for trade and industry, science and technology, agriculture, creative industry and communications;
- senior government officials, as well as public and private sector businesses and inventors;
- intergovernmental organizations;
- regional economic and IP institutions; and
- opinion leaders from within and outside Africa.
Limited space is available for the public, for more information please contact us.
Program
The three-day Conference will consist of a High-level/Plenary session, two parallel break-away clusters and a panel discussion. Each break away cluster and discussion segment will consist of four panelists and a moderator who will guide the discussions between the panelists and participants.
- High Level Segment/Plenary Session – Africa in a Knowledge-Based Economy-Challenges and Opportunities
- Cluster I - Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the transformation of African Economies
- Cluster II - Copyright and Creativity for the Transformation of African Economies
- Panel Discussion on the African Fashion Industry: Capturing Value through IP
Technical documents
- Agenda 2063
- Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024
- Inclusive Green Economy and structural Transformation in Africa
- Africa Competitiveness Report 2013
- At the Center of Africa’s Transformation – Strategy for 2013-2022
- Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa: “Connecting Science “ to transform agriculture in Africa
- Common African Position (CAP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
WIPO partners and special guest
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission.
Mr. Kunihiko Shimano, Director-General, Trial and Appeal Department of the Japan Patent Office.
H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.
H. E. Mrs. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius.
High-level segment panelists
Julius O. Akinyemi is the initiator of Unleashing the Wealth of Nations and Resident Entrepreneur at MIT Media Lab.
Francis Gurry has led the World Intellectual Property Organization as Director General since October 1, 2008.
Martial De Paul Ikounga is Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology at the African Union.
Snowy Khoza is Chief Executive Officer of Bigen Africa and President of Agape Christian Women's Network.
Kingsley Moghalu is a distinguished Professor at The Fletcher School, Tufts University and Partner at Cooke Robotham.
Catherine A. Odora-Hoppers is an internationally recognized scholar and Professor at the University of South Africa.
Oluwatoyin Sanni is Group Chief Executive Officer at United Capital PLC (formerly UBA Capital).
Mactar Silla is an academic, international expert in communications and new technologies and Founder / CEO of MS Consulting.
Nozipho Mbanjwa - the panel's moderator - is an anchor and producer at CNBC Africa and founder of Akwande Communications.