Many small businesses own valuable assets without realizing it, such as a trusted brand name, an original recipe, a distinctive design or a new way of doing things. If these are left unprotected, they can be copied, lost or undervalued. A new initiative in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, set out to change that.
From July to September 2026, around 20 local entrepreneurs took part in a hands-on program at the Pointe-Noire Chamber of Commerce. The goal was to help them understand their intellectual property (IP) and use it to grow. The program was led by the IP for Business Division at WIPO with the support from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) through the Japan Funds-in-Trust Industrial Property Global.
Building local capacity to support small businesses
The program is part of WIPO's SME Intermediary Program. Its aim is to build the capacity of organizations that small businesses already know and trust, such as chambers of commerce, so they can offer IP services to their members. Entrepreneurs regularly turn to their chamber for advice, which makes it the natural place for this support. In Pointe-Noire, the chamber set up a dedicated IP Desk as part of the program. Its staff were trained alongside the participating companies, so they can keep guiding local businesses on IP long after the program ends.
From "what do I own?" to "how do I use it?"
Over three workshops, participants followed a step-by-step journey, featuring a presentation as well from INPI France. They started by mapping their business model and spotting the intangible assets within it, then learned how to protect them, first through the regional IP system run by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and then internationally. Next, they looked at how IP can help them sell, attract financing and generate income through licensing or franchising. Experts gave each company individual mentoring along the way. In the final workshop, each entrepreneur pitched their action plan, shared their experience and received a certificate. Every company leaves with a concrete plan suited to its products and markets.
Building on a proven model
The Congo pilot follows a pilot editions held from 2024 to 2025 in Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroun and Niger. In Congo, the program. was run in close cooperation with Directorate of the National Industrial Property Office (DANPI), the national industrial property office. With trained staff and dedicated IP support now in place, the Pointe-Noire Chamber of Commerce is equipped to bring practical IP support to entrepreneurs in its own community.