WIPO-WTO colloquium for IP teachers and IP Scholars Africa Conference

Overview

Building upon the success of the first IP Scholars Africa (IPSA) Conference which was held in Pretoria in April 2018, the Chair in collaboration with the World IP Organisation (WIPO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), hosted the second IPSA Conference on August 9, 2024 at the University of Cape Town. It followed the WIPO-WTO Colloquium that was held from August 5-8, 2024.

The WIPO-WTO Colloquium provides IP academics from Africa a platform to enhance their understanding of international developments in IP law and policy; share comprehensive updates on the status of WIPO and WTO agreements; foster insights on current activities in both organisations relevant to the African region; map existing IP teaching and scholarship in the region; and facilitate debate and collaboration amongst the academic community in Africa. Further background information is available here .

The IPSA Conference offers researchers from Africa the unique opportunity to present their works-in-progress on the latest topics in the field of IP, network, exchange ideas, and gain constructive feedback from peers. The Conference includes plenary and parallel sessions, alongside keynotes and panel discussions with senior scholars and officials from international organisations. 

Eligibility was restricted to candidates with an advanced degree and teaching experience in IP law or international law / economics / management with a specialisation in IP, who are fluent in English and have Africa-focused IP research on the above-listed themes. Registration was free and participants covered their own travel-related and accommodation expenses, in addition to bearing responsibility for obtaining and covering the costs related to their travel such as visa(s) and any other necessary travel documents. WIPO and WTO provided 20 scholarships  and for participants and the IP Chair extended support to an additional 5 participants. Scholarships covered travel expenses and accommodation, excluding visa costs and medical insurance. Recipients were selected on the basis of work experience, academic excellence, and publications. 

Themes

Both events focused on research and scholarship on: 

• Recent developments in IP Laws and regulations within WIPO and WTO;
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs);
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);
• Innovation and technology adaptation;
• Climate change and environmentally friendly technologies;
• Traditional knowledge and genetic resources;
• Frontier technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and business;
• Global public health (including the COVID-19 pandemic and diversifying production of vaccines and other key technologies); and
• Building capacity of universities to transform ideas into tangible assets.

Publication opportunities

Participants at the Colloquium have been invited to submit their work to the WIPO-WTO Colloquium Papers, a journal providing a uniquely representative and diverse showcase for emerging IP scholarship from across the globe, which promotes analysis and debate on IP issues of interest to developing countries. There was no paper publication requirement to present at the Conference, but presenters were invited to submit papers for consideration to the South African Intellectual Property Law Journal.