WIPO Launches 'My IP Story' Initiative for African Innovators Ahead of Africa Intellectual Property Day 2026

Applications are now open for 'My IP Story,' an initiative commemorating Africa Intellectual Property Day 2026. The program invites African entrepreneurs, businesses, and innovators to share firsthand accounts of how intellectual property (IP) has played a pivotal role in their ventures, innovations, creativity, and overall growth.

This initiative offers a platform for African innovators to highlight the significance of various IP rights—including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs—in protecting their ideas and generating value. By sharing their stories, participants can demonstrate the practical benefits of IP in fostering competitive advantage and commercial success.

Intellectual property is increasingly recognized as a vital business asset for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. WIPO has underscored that robust IP protection can enhance a company’s market position, attract investment, and open new avenues for commercialization.

Entrepreneurs whose businesses have benefited from IP—whether by safeguarding innovations, building brand equity, commercializing ideas, or entering new markets—are encouraged to apply. 'My IP Story' serves as a unique opportunity to showcase these experiences and contribute to a broader understanding of IP’s role in Africa’s innovation landscape.

WIPO’s documentation includes numerous examples where African entrepreneurs have leveraged trademarks and other IP rights to strengthen their brands and expand their reach. Despite this, many business owners tend to focus primarily on product development and customer acquisition, often overlooking the strategic importance of protecting their intellectual property.

A well-crafted IP strategy can secure a business’s unique assets and unlock additional commercial opportunities. Recent engagements by WIPO with African startups have emphasized IP’s critical role in building commercially sustainable and investment-ready enterprises.

Participants in 'My IP Story' are asked to prepare clear narratives detailing their journeys with intellectual property. Key points include lessons learned about protecting and commercializing ideas and insights into how IP has influenced their entrepreneurial path.

The initiative aligns with WIPO’s expanding presence in Africa, marked by the opening of its first external office in Sub-Saharan Africa, located in Nigeria, in 2026. This office’s mandate includes supporting innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, creators, and small businesses across the region.

WIPO continues to collaborate with African startups to integrate IP considerations into their commercial strategies, enabling better decision-making regarding innovation protection.

Interested applicants should consult the official application form for submission deadlines and detailed requirements. This initiative represents a valuable chance for African entrepreneurs to share their stories and elevate the profile of intellectual property within the continent’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.

For further opportunities, applicants may also explore related programs such as the Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026, the iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme 2026, and the develoPPP Classic Funding Programme 2026, which offer funding and training support for African innovators and businesses.