Durban — South Africa’s creative sector is navigating turbulent waters, burdened by outdated intellectual property (IP) laws that bleed the economy to the tune of over R47 billion annually.
This was the opinion of Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Intellectual Property Deputy Director, Dr Mandla Victor Hlongwane. The MUT recently hosted the WIPO-SA Summer School to turn education into action.
In response to this pressing challenge, MUT intends to make strides in empowering future innovators through the ongoing World Intellectual Property Organization-South Africa (WIPO-SA) Summer School.
According to MUT, this year’s programme is critical for equipping participants with the necessary tools to navigate and reshape Africa's creative landscape, which currently contributes a mere 1% of global patents despite having 17% of the world’s population.
As South Africa grapples with the dire economic implications of weak IP protections, initiatives like WIPO-SA are seen as vital. Conducted in partnership with various notable bodies including the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), and WIPO-SA, the Summer School serves as a beacon of hope for innovation across the continent.
In a continent where research and development investments average just 0.4% of GDP — well below the global average of 1.7% — the Summer School's focus on practical applications of IP is paramount. Participants engage in a rigorous curriculum featuring lectures, case studies, and simulation exercises that encompass relevant topics such as patenting indigenous knowledge and fostering green technologies, each aligning squarely with Africa’s unique innovation challenges.
The opening ceremony featured influential stakeholders including KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Musa Zondi, and WIPO-SA Academy Program Officer, Maria-Stella Ntamark. They underscored the programme’s significance in nurturing a fresh wave of leaders attuned to the economic potential of intellectual property.
Ntamark said that MUT has demonstrated unparalleled leadership in creating a platform where ideas, innovation, and collaboration come together to address Africa’s challenges.
The continent’s estimated annual loss of $2.5 billion due to inadequate IP protections amplifies the urgency of equipping participants with the skills to spearhead enhanced protection measures.
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