The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (CCI-CI), the Ivorian Office of Intellectual Property (OIPI), and CPCCAF, with support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global), concluded the Pilot Mentorship Program on Intellectual Property (IP) during a closing event held in Abidjan.
The initiative brought together over 20 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across Côte d’Ivoire and was designed to equip them with the knowledge and tools to integrate IP into their core business strategies. Over the course of several months, participants engaged in in-depth training, personalized mentoring, and practical workshops covering key topics such as trademark protection, licensing, IP valuation, and digital strategy.
“For our SMEs, it is not just about protection—it is about positioning, value creation, and long-term growth. This program has shown that with the right support, our entrepreneurs can turn IP into a true business asset.” — Mr. Paul Assandé, Director General, Ivorian Office of Intellectual Property (OIPI).
Long-Term Vision: Building National Capacity for Sustainable Impact
Beyond the immediate benefits for participating businesses, the program was designed with a long-term vision: to strengthen CCI-CI’s institutional capacity to deliver preliminary IP-for-business support services, and to foster deeper operational collaboration with OIPI. These efforts aim to lay the foundation for a cohesive and inclusive national IP and innovation ecosystem, ultimately serving the growth, resilience, and competitiveness of Ivorian enterprises.
This vision is already materializing through plans to establish a permanent IP Desk within CCI-CI, where SMEs can access first-line advisory services tailored to their business needs. The initiative also catalyzed stronger coordination between public and private actors in Côte d’Ivoire’s innovation space.
“Through this program, we have seen a real shift in mindset,” said Mr. Omer Konan, Director of Innovation and Cooperation Projects - “IP is no longer perceived as an abstract legal tool — it’s now recognized as a strategic asset that even the smallest businesses must actively manage.”
Laying the Groundwork for Broader Impact
The success of this pilot has reinforced WIPO’s commitment to localized capacity-building and hands-on technical support. As SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire continue to mature and innovate, access to strategic IP guidance will be essential. The collaboration fostered through this program has already shown that strong local partnerships are key to delivering lasting results.