From April 26 to 28, the Universities of Constantine 1 and 3 hosted, in partnership with WIPO, INAPI, and ONDA, two events marking the conclusion of the “Intellectual Property Month” launched on April 8, 2025, in Adrar.
The first event took place at the University of Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 and was opened by the President of the Regional Conference of Eastern Universities. Opening remarks were also delivered by the Director General of INAPI, the representative of ONDA, and the Director of WIPO’s External Office in Algeria. The speakers emphasized the importance of celebrating World Intellectual Property Day to enable a better understanding of intellectual property and encourage innovators and creators to leverage IP rights so their ideas can safely reach the market, improving not only their own living conditions but also those of people everywhere.
Participants then watched the Director General’s message and a presentation of the CLIP platform (“Creators Learn Intellectual Property”).
The program continued over two days with :
- Lectures on industrial property, the protection of Algerian musical heritage, and the role of cultural associations;
- An artistic performance by the choir of the Maqam Association of Constantine, interpreting traditional pieces of the Constantine Malouf, highlighting the importance of protecting heritage works;
- Discussions on the Algerian legal framework and the protection of musical works;
- Practical workshops (patent drafting) and a roundtable on safeguarding Constantine’s music.
The Constantine Chamber of Handicrafts and individual artisans organized an exhibition of handicraft products, including musical instruments, alongside the sessions.
At the conclusion, participants adopted several recommendations regarding:
- The feasibility of creating a university observatory on musical intellectual property protection;
- Encouraging students to engage more in musical creation through hackathons or contests;
- Strengthening partnerships with WIPO, INAPI, and ONDA for certified training programs.
On April 28, Constantine 3 University Salah Boubnider closed the celebrations with a series of activities launched by the University Rector, the Director General of INAPI, the ONDA representative, and the Director of WIPO’s External Office in Algeria. The focus remained on the musical heritage of Constantine and ways to preserve and protect it through intellectual property rights such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and copyrights.
Radio Constantine hosted a live debate on World Intellectual Property Day, featuring the Director of WIPO’s External Office in Algeria, the Director General of INAPI, the Director of the National Museum of Traditional Arts and Cultural Expressions, and the ONDA representative. Workshops on various aspects of intellectual property were organized alongside the event, as well as an exhibition by the School of Fine Arts and the Chamber of Handicrafts. These workshops benefited dozens of teachers and innovators by providing guidance and support to carry their projects forward. It was also agreed to explore with the School of Fine Arts the possibility of integrating intellectual property into the school program.
Both universities also organized innovation project competitions as part of the celebration:
- At the University of Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, a contest themed “Creativity Without Borders: Innovative Student Projects to Meet Tomorrow’s Challenges” attracted 60 projects, with the top three awarded prizes;
- Constantine 3 University Salah Boubnider held a contest on “Cultural or Artistic Innovations” with nineteen projects, also awarding prizes to the top three.
More than four hundred musicians, artists, creators, innovators, teachers, researchers, students, project leaders, members of scientific clubs, entrepreneurs, and socio-economic partners participated in these events. These gatherings celebrated the universal language of music and honored the talent of musicians, creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs who sustain a dynamic, diverse, and thriving music scene benefiting all, everywhere.