The WIPO Regional Patent Drafting Training for ARIPO Member States (including Observer States) and SADC countries opened on 20 October with a room full of eager participants, early-career researchers, university lecturers, technology transfer officers and innovators from across Africa. From the first session, the one-week training was marked by curiosity, challenging questions from participants, and genuine enthusiasm for mastering the craft of patent drafting while connecting its concepts into the realities of their ecosystem’s research and innovation structures.
From claim construction, invention disclosure techniques, group-based mock defenses, simulated patent disputes to comparative analyses of national and global practices, participants immersed themselves in every aspect of the drafting process. The trainers facilitated the week with hands-on exercises, peer-review sessions, and interactive case studies that anchored their learning into real-world scenarios.
My country needs skilled personnel to draft the patent and WIPO is the best institution that delivers the training, both online and in person.
- Mr. Luiz Manuel Gamboa da Silva from Sao Tome & Principe
The breakout groups format fostered collaboration between countries and allowed participants to appreciate the diversity of innovations emerging across the continent, from agritech solutions, renewable energy prototypes to digital platforms and other research breakthroughs waiting to be translated into protected and market-ready patents.
Patent drafting and examination is basically non-existent in my country… I can share the knowledge with my peers and colleagues and implement what I have learned.
- Mr. Qinisizwe Nxumalo from The Kingdom of Eswatini
A side event back-to-back with the Training created a rare moment of alignment. It brought together Zimbabwean researchers, universities, public research institutes, small businesses, and technology hubs, who joined the training participants for an evening of open dialogue and exchange.
During the side event discussions took place regarding WIPO patent drafting programs where Ms. Nyasha Chiota, a Zimbabwean graduate of the WIPO International Patent Drafting Training – 2023 cohort, shared her testimonial. She spoke candidly about her life-changing journey with the Program, both during the training and long after graduating, capturing the room’s attention and reminding everyone of the real human impact behind capacity-building initiatives.
This program has completely changed my life… After completing it, I didn’t need to go looking for opportunities, opportunities came looking for me. The University of Zimbabwe approached me because research institutions understand just how crucial a skilled patent drafter is.
- Ms. Nyasha Chiota