ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) placed particular emphasis on Intellectual Property (IP) management to drive Ethiopia’s digital transformation while boosting innovation and technology.
Director General of EIPA Woldu Yemessel, said that Ethiopia has immense intangible assets, and the proper management and protection of these assets, can foster an IP driven ecosystem, boosts innovation, and strengthens nation’s economic growth. Ethiopia has to embed IP into national frameworks, and stands to build a dynamic environment where innovation thrives, industries flourishes.
He stated that the House of People’s Representatives recently approved Ethiopia’s accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks.
State Minister of Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Fozia Amin (PhD) said that as Ethiopia is striving to transform itself into a middle-income and industrialized nation,it is important to emphasize on proper management of IP, which is crucial to drive economy.
Director, International Classifications and Standards Division WIPO Kunihiko Fushimi, for his part said that Ethiopia has lot of potential in the sector and integrating IP policies into broader national development goals and strategies, is important to unlock potential that drives sustainable economic growth, and empowering SMEs and creators.
Acting Director, Division for Africa, WIPO Loretta Asiedu, said that the forum is both timely and essential, as Ethiopia strives to transform itself into a middle-income, industrialized nation by focusing on sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability – as embedded in its development Vision 2030.
A considerablenumber of African nations have recognized that the IP system is no longer an abstract legal notion which is relevant only to wealthy nations. It is being recognized as relevant to all nations and cultures,contributing immensely to the economic growth and development of societies. Exploring the transformative potential of IP is instrumental to the national development aspirations of Ethiopia, she noted.
She stated that in today’s knowledge-based economy, innovation and IP play critical roles in driving economic growth, competitiveness, and sustainable development. Intangible assets like ideas, expertise, and technology, are as valuable as physical assets. It is innovation which transforms knowledge into new products, services, and processes, creating competitive advantages for businesses. IP in turn, provides a legal framework to protect and capitalize on these intangible assets.
Within the global south and indeed across Africa, countries are integrating IP policies into their broader national development goals and strategies, unlocking potential that drives sustainable economic growth, enhances competitiveness, and empowers local innovators and creators.
Some African countries like Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and others are making strides in aligning IP with national development goals on transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, with IP serving as a catalyst for innovation and economic transformation.
Commending the Ethiopian government for taking steps to design a draft National IP Policy and Strategy with WIPO support in 2022, Asiedu expressed hope that this draft policy obtains approval at the highest decision-making level of the country and provides a comprehensive framework for IP governance in the country. The government takes steps towards acceding to WIPO treaties which is successful initiatives seen across Africa and globally.
The authority has opened national intellectual property week organized by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia with the support of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) aimed at proper intellectual property management and boosting innovation.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2024
