The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) are collaborating to establish a regional network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs). This initiative aims to facilitate access to information and training from intellectual property documentation centers located in the 17 member states of OAPI.
According to Denis Loukou Bohoussou, Director General of OAPI, TISCs are not just access points to information but an essential element in the innovation value chain. These centers aim to facilitate access for inventors, researchers, universities, SMEs and entrepreneurs to patent databases and scientific and technical literature. The goal is to create an environment conducive to a knowledge and creativity-based economy.
A reflection meeting was held in Yaoundé on February 26 and 27 to define the operational bases for this future network. Discussions focused on the respective contributions of WIPO, OAPI, and member states, particularly in terms of financial and technical resources, training programs for TISC staff, deployment of national and regional focal points, simplified access to databases, and the establishment of specialized digital tools.
This project aims to unite public innovation support structures, the private sector, universities, research centers, and inventors around a coherent regional architecture. OAPI aims to structure a shared dynamic of technological and socio-economic development, enhancing Africa's innovation potential and protecting creators through intellectual property. The challenge is to improve the valorization of research results, the protection of inventions, and the competitiveness of innovative SMEs in the 17 OAPI member countries.
