The African Intellectual Property Organization has partnered with the World Intellectual Property Organization to establish a regional network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers aimed at reinforcing intellectual property systems across its 17 member states.
The initiative seeks to improve access to intellectual property information, patent databases and technical documentation within universities, research institutions and documentation centers throughout the OAPI region. By building a coordinated network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers, commonly known as TISCs, the two institutions aim to enhance innovation capacity and support knowledge driven economic growth.
OAPI Director General Denis Loukou Bohoussou said the centers are intended to go beyond traditional documentation services. According to him, TISCs are designed to play a strategic role within the broader innovation ecosystem.
“TISCs are not just access points for information. They are a critical link in the innovation value chain,” Bohoussou stated. He explained that the centers will help inventors, researchers, universities, small and medium sized enterprises and entrepreneurs gain access to patent databases as well as scientific and technical literature essential for product development and commercialization.
The regional rollout is expected to strengthen the capacity of member states to transform research outcomes into market ready solutions. By facilitating access to global patent information and technical data, the centers can help innovators avoid duplication, identify technological gaps and better position their ideas for protection and commercialization.
A planning meeting held on February 26 and 27 in Yaoundé laid the operational groundwork for the future network. Participants discussed the respective roles of WIPO, OAPI and individual member states in implementing the initiative, including governance structures, financial arrangements and capacity building mechanisms. The meeting focused on ensuring coordinated management and sustainable funding for the centers once operational.
The Technology and Innovation Support Center model, promoted globally by WIPO, has been implemented in numerous countries to strengthen national innovation frameworks. Through technical assistance, training and digital tools, WIPO supports host institutions in building expertise in patent search, intellectual property management and technology transfer.
For OAPI’s 17 member states, which span primarily francophone countries in West and Central Africa, the network is expected to bridge gaps in access to reliable intellectual property resources. Many universities and research institutions in the region face constraints in accessing up to date scientific literature and patent databases, limiting their ability to compete in global innovation markets.
By institutionalizing TISCs within documentation centers and academic institutions, the partnership aims to empower local innovators to better protect their inventions and leverage intellectual property as a development tool. Strengthened IP systems are widely seen as critical for attracting foreign investment, promoting entrepreneurship and fostering competitive industries.
The initiative aligns with broader continental efforts to build knowledge based economies and support industrialization through research and innovation. As African countries seek to diversify away from reliance on raw commodity exports, intellectual property frameworks are increasingly viewed as central to unlocking value from technology, creativity and scientific research.
With the operational framework now under discussion, OAPI and WIPO are expected to begin phased implementation of the regional network in collaboration with national authorities. The success of the initiative will depend on sustained institutional support, effective training programs and integration of the centers into national innovation strategies.
If fully implemented, the regional TISC network could mark a significant step toward strengthening intellectual property ecosystems across OAPI member states, creating more favorable conditions for inventors, startups and research institutions to contribute meaningfully to economic transformation.
