As
global commemorations of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day unfold, reflecting
on intellectual property’s past, present and future contributions to
sustainable development within the African context is exciting. The theme for
2024 is “IP and the SDGs: Building
our common future with innovation and creativity”, shining a light on the undeniable
fact that innovation and creativity are vital to achieving the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). In a world facing numerous challenges, such as
climate change, resource scarcity, and public health crises, leveraging
intellectual property to drive sustainable development for our common future
has never been more critical.
Explicitly
referencing the importance of innovation is SDG9 - Build resilient
infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster
innovation. In our work focused on fostering innovation as the African
Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), we are yet to encounter SDGs
that do not require the intervention of innovation. It, therefore, is essential
to note that the concept of innovation and IP cuts across all the SDGs as it
supports the realisation of all the solutions envisioned in this United Nations
(UN) Vision 2030. Notably, IP
protection underpins creating a fair and equitable society that values
innovation and creativity, which is essential for achieving the broader aims of
SDG 16. Securing the rights of contributors is essential for sustainable
development, and SDG 16 provides a framework that promotes “peaceful and
inclusive societies for sustainable development, provides access to justice for
all, and builds effective,
accountable, and inclusive institutions” at all levels in the intellectual property ecosystem.
Current
trend
The
UN acknowledges that “SDGs are ambitious, multidimensional, and an interlinked
set of goals. They cannot be achieved without the effective, appropriate, and
inclusive application of science, technology, and innovation.” All these
elements are creations of the mind, the simplified definition of IP as we know
it. It takes a lot of time and multiple other resources for innovators and
creators to produce revolutionary and futuristic solutions that meet our
planet’s current and future needs. Therefore, innovators and inventors are
motivated to invest time, resources, and effort in contributing more to
socio-economic development when there is a return on investment and sweat of
the brow, which translates into their
livelihood. The IP system incentivises innovation and creativity, stimulating
investment in the innovation required to attain the lifesaving solutions
enshrined in the SDGs.
ARIPO’s
Mandate
ARIPO’s
mission is to foster creativity and innovation for our Member States' socio-economic
growth through an effective IP System. We have embraced innovation and
creativity as twin essentials for sustainable and green development. In that
respect, fulfilling SDG17 - Partnership for the goals, ARIPO works
closely with strategic partners, including the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO), the China National IP Administration(CNIPA), the European Union
Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the Organisation Africaine de la
Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI), the European Patent Office (EPO), the Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC), international federations like the
Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Auteurs et Compositeurs (CISAC), International
Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), global academic
institutions and many other key stakeholders with a focus to promote innovation
and creativity in Africa.
At
ARIPO, we conceive the nexus between sustainable and green development and the
protection of intellectual assets as necessary vehicles for socio-economic
development. As such, we promote environmentally friendly technologies,
practices, and innovations that help our Member States realise the SDGs and
ultimately benefit from them collectively.
Our
role in promoting sustainable development is fulfilled by protecting intellectual
property under the ARIPO system utilising the existing Protocols. The industrial
property under ARIPO’s Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs
protects technologies that advance the attainment of, among others, good health,
zero hunger, no poverty, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic
growth. Through mechanisms such as compulsory licensing and technology
transfer, IP rights are even greater leverage to ensure that essential
medicines are available and affordable to those in need, particularly in our
region where Member States are in different stages of development.
Innovative
entities acquire trademark protection under the Banjul Protocol on Marks,
while the protection of Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge (TK) is catered
for under the Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge
and Expressions of Folklore. We recognise that over the past millennia, TK
has offered valuable insights into sustainable environmental practices,
agricultural methods, food security, and medicinal expertise. It is a potential
panacea for dealing with pressing global issues such as climate change. IP can
help preserve cultural heritage, promote economic empowerment, and foster
sustainable development in marginalised communities by protecting traditional
knowledge, cultural expressions, and indigenous innovation. The Kampala
Protocol on Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights ensures that
creative industries contribute to the socio-economic development of Member
States. The Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants provides
an effective system of plant variety protection, which has the potential to
support the utilisation of 65% of the
world’s uncultivated arable land that Africa holds.
The
journey going forward
As
we celebrate this World IP Day and reflect on the befitting theme, our call is
for all of us to nurture the attainment of SDGs by utilising the opportunities
at hand in the face of global hunger, accelerated climate change, scarcity of
resources and increased pressure on the environment. The onus to proactively
create policies that incentivise and motivate the commercialisation of green and
sustainable technologies is on us, the current inhabitants of planet Earth. Our
collaborative efforts must provide continuous adaptation and innovation for
sustainability and contribute to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development
Goals agenda and beyond.
On
this occasion, let us reaffirm our commitment to promoting and respecting IPRs,
supporting the creators and innovators who drive progress, and harnessing the
power of innovation to build a better future for all. Together, we can amplify
innovative and creative solutions for sustainable development and create a
world where intellectual property catalyses positive change. We must act now
and use our ingenuity to achieve a sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.
In IP, we have all the necessary tools to facilitate the realisation of present
needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.
HAPPY
WORLD IP DAY!