As part of its remarkable growth in interest among local innovators over the past two years, the Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) in South Africa seeks to increase the number of high-quality applications to the Program while ensuring that inventors better understand the requirements and processes of the patent system. Against this background, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in cooperation with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), continued a series of targeted capacity-building events in South Africa under the IAP by hosting a webinar on March 27, 2026, which brought together more than 330 participants.
The event aimed to strengthen innovators’ capacity and equip prospective applicants at an early stage with essential knowledge of the patent system, with a particular focus on protecting inventions through patents and functional designs. Participants gained practical insights into identifying protectable elements, selecting the most appropriate IP rights for their needs, and exploring how to leverage their portfolios to transform ideas into valuable, market-ready assets.
Addressing participants with her welcome remarks, Dr. Mavis Nyatlo, Divisional Manager, Patents, Designs, Innovation Support and Protection Division at CIPC, emphasized the importance of creativity and innovation in driving progress in South Africa. “Today is about possibilities. It is about turning brilliant ideas into real, protected, market-ready innovations that can uplift, grow businesses and strengthen our economy”.
In this context, Dr. Nyatlo highlighted the role of the IAP in supporting innovators and strengthening the local innovation ecosystem, and noted that “beyond patent and functional design protection, the Program now facilitates access to professionals who offer guidance on the commercialization of innovations”, thereby empowering inventors not only to protect their inventions locally and abroad, but also to bring them to market.
Every great breakthrough begins with curiosity, and the more informed you are, the better positioned you will be to protect and advance your innovation.
The IAP is designed to support solutions of all kinds – from sustainability-driven technologies to practical innovations that address everyday challenges.
Dr. Mavis Nyatlo
In her remarks, Allison Mages, Head, IP Commercialization Section, IP for Innovators Department, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector at WIPO, underscored the transformative potential of innovation, noting that the IAP is “our commitment to ensuring that no brilliant idea goes unnoticed, and that every inventor has the support to bring their ideas to life”, while encouraging participants to continue shaping solutions with global impact.
Creativity has no ceiling, and the ingenuity of South African inventors is proof of that. You are solving real problems – for yourselves, your communities, and the world around you. When you take what drives you and shape it into something others can benefit from, the impact can be extraordinary. The task now is to trust it, develop it, and let it grow into something that reaches far beyond this room – and far beyond South Africa’s borders.
Allison Mages
Dr. Nyatlo and Allison Mages also expressed their sincere appreciation to volunteer patent attorneys, law firms, and partner organizations for their continued support in implementing the IAP in South Africa.
Participants benefited from a thorough overview of the forms of IP protection available to South African innovators, with emphasis on patents and functional design rights, provided by a key speaker, Dr. Thandanani Cwele, Senior Associate at Spoor & Fisher and IAP volunteer.
Loveness Gwebu, Patent Substantive Searcher and Examiner at CIPC, outlined the local eligibility criteria and guided participants through the steps required to become an IAP beneficiary in South Africa. She strongly encouraged first-time inventors to seek professional assistance and cautioned against over-reliance on AI tools when generating ideas and preparing patent applications, noting that AI-generated concepts often fail to meet patentability requirements and the Program’s criteria.
The program also included a Q&A session and an interactive quiz, testing participants’ patent-related knowledge and reinforcing key concepts discussed during the event, and participants had a chance to win a free one-on-one consultation with a patent attorney, offered by Dr. Thandanani Cwele.
The IAP continues to play a vital role in supporting inventors, strengthening innovation capacity, and fostering greater participation in the IP system. By equipping innovators with the knowledge and tools needed to protect and leverage their ideas, the Program contributes to building a more inclusive and sustainable innovation ecosystem in South Africa and beyond.