WIPO Hosts MIP Alumni Conferences in Harare and Yaoundé to Enhance IP Business Management Skills

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently convened two Management of Intellectual Property (MIP) Alumni Conferences in Africa, focusing on the practical use of intellectual property (IP) for business management. These conferences took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Yaoundé, Cameroon, providing a platform for alumni to update their skills and expand IP networks across the region.

The first conference was held on December 7 and 8, 2022, at Africa University in Harare. This event was organized in collaboration with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and Africa University, with assistance from the Government of Japan. It brought together fifty alumni of the MIP program at Africa University.

Mr. Futoshi Yasuda, Director General of the Patent and Design Examination Department at the Japan Patent Office (JPO), participated in the Harare conference and delivered the opening remarks, underscoring the importance of IP in business management.

Following this, a similar alumni conference was conducted on February 1 and 2, 2023, at the University of Yaoundé II in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This event was organized jointly with the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) and the University of Yaoundé II, also supported by the Government of Japan.

Forty-one alumni from the MIP program at the University of Yaoundé II attended the conference. The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Denis Bohoussou, Director General of OAPI, highlighting the significance of IP management in regional development.

Both conferences featured lectures from IP experts, followed by group work discussions. These interactive sessions enabled participants to engage in practical discussions on IP management, reinforcing their understanding of its critical role in business.

The events also served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the alumni network community, fostering connections among IP professionals across the African region.

Through these initiatives, WIPO, in partnership with ARIPO, OAPI, and local universities, continues to promote the effective use of intellectual property as a strategic business asset, supported by international cooperation with the Government of Japan.