Congo – Brazzaville, December 11, 2025 – Africa does not wait forinnovation. It creates it. This conviction guided the high-level panel held by OAPI( African Intellectual Property Organization) on the sidelines of the 65thsession of its Board of Directors, on the theme: “Stimulating the development of entrepreneurship and the innovative economy in Africa”.
A strategic meeting for the economic future of the OAPI countries
This panel brought together key players from the global intellectual property and innovation ecosystem:
- WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
- ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization)
- CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office)
- JPO (Japan Patent Office)
- INTA (International Trademark Association)
- UNICONGO (Congolese Employers' and Interprofessional Union)
These institutions, alongside OAPI, compared their visions and shared their experiences to answer a key question:
How can we work to spark a surge of innovative African entrepreneurs?
Rich discussions around five key themes
The discussions helped identify strategic levers to accelerate the continent's economic transformation:
- The real challenges to the competitiveness of African businesses
Limited access to funding
Low integration of technologies in SMEs
- Public policies that work elsewhere and from which we can draw inspiration
Tax incentives for R&D
Public-private partnerships for innovation
- What Africa can adapt to create its own models
Valuing local knowledge
Development ofincubators and clusters
- The key role of intellectual property (IP) in growth
Protecting innovations to attract investors
Raising awareness of intellectual property among entrepreneurs
- Rapid actions to transform theinnovative economy
Digitalization of services
Training young people for careers in innovation
A strong conviction resonated: Africa is ready
This panel highlighted an undeniable reality:
💡 Africa is not waiting for innovation. It is the next global source. With a dynamic youth, creative talent, and unique resources, the continent has the assets to become a major player in the global economy.
OAPI's commitment
Based on these reflections and the search for impactful solutions, OAPI reaffirms its commitment to supporting its member states in this transformation, focusing on three major areas:
Promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Strengthen the protection ofintellectual property rights,
Facilitating access to information and IP tools,
