Description: |
The WIPO- ARIPO Project on Elaboration of Guidelines for the Intellectual Property (IP) Policy and Strategy for an effective use of the IP System by Universities and Research and Developments Institutions in Africa, commenced in May 2017. WIPO contracted the services of Professor Barthélémy Nyasse, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Bamenda, Cameroon (lead Consultant); Dr. Dick M. Kamugasha, Director, Technology Development Centre (TDC), Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Kampala, Uganda; and Dr. Andrew Mutsiwa, Harare, Zimbabwe, in the project implementation. Following the successful completion of the deliverables as per their TORs, the Working Group Session to discuss the joint reports and finalize the Policy Guidelines took place at the ARIPO Headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe, on August 3 and 4, 2017. See attached Mission report. Following this Session the Consultants submitted the Joint Draft Report and Working Document on the Guidelines (copies attached). It is now proposed as per the Project timeframe to organize the Sub-Regional Multi-stakeholders Validation Workshop at the ARIPO Headquarters in Harare, on October 30 and 31, 2017. The Japan Patent Office (JPO) under the Japan Funds-in-Trust arrangements for Africa and the Least Developed Countries LDCs, which has been closely implicated in this process since the IP Policy Dialogue in Casablanca has committed to contribute 20,000 United States dollars towards the organization of the Multi-Stakeholders Validation Workshop. Participants will be drawn from select officials from Universities, Research and Development (R&D) institutions in ARIPO Members States, and potential Member States. Effort is being made to ensure that there is a fair representation of participants who were in the Casablanca IP Policy Dialogue, up to a total of 20 participants. |