WIPO-ARIPO Sub-Regional Meeting on the Development of a Regional Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) Network
March 13, 2023
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), held a regional meeting on February 23 and 24, 2023 with support from the Japan Patent Office.
The objective of the meeting was to strengthen the regional TISC network among ARIPO member states as a means for fostering exchange of experiences and best practices and sharing resources within the region and to build skills and knowledge on patent search as a foundation for South-South cooperation in capacity development.
About the meeting
This is the very first physical meeting as a TISC networking meeting for ARIPO member states after the pandemic and held in Harare, Zimbabwe. Twenty-one TISC focal point coordinators from ARIPO member states participated in the meeting.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, Director General, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, Mr. Andrew Czajkowski, Director, Technology and Innovation Support Division, IP for Innovators Department, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, on behalf of WIPO, and Mr. Hiroyuki Kumagai, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe, Harare.
TISC focal point coordinators shared information on the development of each country’s TISC network, as well as examples of activities taken by their TISC networks in promoting and raising awareness of TISC services. WIPO presented recent developments in its global TISC program, in particular training activities and related resources.
