As part of the 10th edition of the African Exhibition of Invention and Innovative Enterprise (SAIIT), organized in Niamey, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) held a high-level conference dedicated to a crucial issue for the future ofinnovation on the continent: mobilizing funding for African inventions and innovative SMEs.
Held under the theme "Intellectual Property and Financing of Innovative SMEs", this meeting brought together experts, heads of financial institutions, representatives of support structures, public decision-makers, researchers and entrepreneurs around a common ambition: to create the conditions enabling African inventions to take the crucial step of economic valorization.
From protecting the invention to financing it
Moderated by Dr Mahamane YAHAYA, Teacher-researcher at Abdou Moumouni University and President of the Technology and Innovation Support Unit (CATI) of Niger, the conference was opened by a communication from Mickaël KACOU, Entrepreneurial Growth Advisory Lead at ESP Partners (Ivory Coast).
In his presentation, the expert noted that while realities vary from country to country, it remains possible to find common, contextual, and situational solutions. He emphasized the need to build strong bridges between inventors, support structures, investors, and financial institutions to facilitate African innovations' access to funding and markets.
For the participants, the challenge is no longer solely to protect inventions, but to enable them to become viable, competitive businesses that generate economic value.
A high-level panel on the OAPI financing mechanism
The discussions continued through a panel dedicated to:
"Operationalizing the OAPI invention and innovation financing mechanism: role and expectations of stakeholders"
Moderated by Moustapha NLEND, Analysis and Studies Advisor at OAPI, this panel brought together:
- Guy Francis BOUSSAFOU, Director of Patents and other Technical Creations at OAPI;
- Christelle Ayabavi Atikpe, Senior Business Manager and UEMOA Regional Manager at AGF West Africa;
- Aziz Issaka Abdou, General Manager of CORIS BANK Niger;
- Assoumane Aichatou, Director General of Scientific Research of Niger;
- Hassane Bissala Yahaya, General Manager of INOVATECH;
- Nebie Lassina, President of the Burkinabe Association of Inventors and Innovators;
- Dr Dosso Mafini Sarratou, Co-founder of GAÏA Intelligence Africa and President of the International Organization for Innovation for Sustainable Territories and Industries (OIITID);
- Mahamadou BELLO, Director General of the Niger Small and Medium Enterprise Incubator Centre.
Building African mechanisms for promoting innovation
During her noteworthy intervention, Dr. Dosso Mafini Sarratou posed a fundamental question:
"Our inventions exist, but how do we transform them into economic value within the OAPI region?"
To meet this challenge, she formulated three key proposals.
- The valorization of African patents
According to her, intellectual property rights must become genuine economic assets. This implies establishing mechanisms capable of assigning a monetary value to patents and other innovations in order to facilitate discussions with banks and investors. The objective is to develop African expertise capable of evaluating inventions according to the realities of the continent and thus strengthening their credibility with financial partners.
- Measuring innovation to better fund it
Dr. Dosso also advocated for the creation of a database and indicators to objectively assess the growth potential of innovative companies. She indicated that an existing dedicated platform has already supported more than fifty companies, demonstrating the value of measurement tools in guiding the decisions of investors and financial institutions.
- Strengthening the capacities of incubators
Finally, she emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of incubators in the innovation ecosystem. Beyond technical support, the focus is now on training inventors in protecting their innovations, commercializing them, and developing the growth strategies essential for their development.
According to the expert, the continent's economic sovereignty rests in particular on its ability to build its own standards for valuing innovation.
AGF West Africa: Facilitating access to financing for innovative SMEs
Speaking on behalf ofAfrican Guarantee Fund (AGF) West Africa, a key partner in the invention and innovation financing mechanism developed with OAPI, Christelle Ayabavi Atikpe reviewed the progress made in operationalizing the system.
In particular, she presented the actions undertaken to bring together the selected incubators in the OAPI member stateswith partner banking networks in order to identify and support projects with funding potential.
In this context, consultations have already been launched with the incubators through a network of 127 partner banks, with the aim of encouraging the financing of innovative SMEs.
The mechanism thus provides for the provision of a guarantee fund that can cover up to 75% of the risk, thereby offering financial institutions more favorable conditions to support innovative project promoters.
This approach aims to remove one of the main obstacles faced by innovative startups and SMEs: "access to credit".
OAPI is focusing on supporting and developing projects
Speaking on behalf of OAPI, Guy Francis BOUSSAFOU presented the Organization's contribution to the implementation of the invention and innovation financing mechanism.
Beyond issuing patents, with its partner AGF, OAPI intends to strengthen its support for inventors through specialized training programs, targeted technical assistance and support for incubated projects.
The objective is to improve the maturation of innovations in order to enable project leaders to develop business models and to present financial partners with proposals that meet funding criteria.
This approach aims to gradually transform inventions into bankable projects capable of attracting the investments necessary for their growth.
Inspiring experiences from the continent
The conference was enriched by the testimonies of:
- Marlyse NDJENGA (Innovative Africa, Cameroon);
- Nour-Eddine BOUKHAROUAA (OMPIC, Morocco);
- Mohamed Amine CHAIB (Challenges Center, Algeria).
Their interventions made it possible to share concrete experiences in supporting innovators, promoting intellectual property and creating ecosystems conducive to innovation.
A shared ambition for Africa
At the end of the discussions, one conviction emerged: Africa is not lacking in talent, ideas, or inventors. This was also emphasized by the Director General of OAPI, Denis BOHOUSSOU, 10thin SAIIT his opening address at the in Niamey.
The challenge now is to build effective mechanisms linking inventors to incubators, incubators to banks, banks to investors, and this entire ecosystem to the markets.
Through its financing mechanism, OAPI intends to contribute to this transformation by making intellectual property not only a tool for protection, but also a real lever for financing, competitiveness and economic growth serving the African continent.
