PACRA and ARIPO Empower Zambian Academics with Patent Search Training
Zambian academics have convened in Lusaka for a capacity-building seminar aimed at deepening their understanding of patents, a key component of Intellectual Property (IP).
Organised by the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) in collaboration with the University of Zambia (UNZA), and supported by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the seminar runs under the theme “Fostering Creativity and Innovation for Economic Growth and Development in Africa.”
ARIPO Capacity Building Officer, Dr Bryson Sabola, emphasised the importance of the training, noting that it enables researchers to identify existing technologies, thereby avoiding duplication and promoting original innovation.
“Patent search is crucial in ensuring that academic research contributes meaningfully to technological advancement and industrial growth,” Dr Sabola said.
Speaking at the same event, SADC representative Reaboka Morakabi highlightred the growing role of intellectual property in economic transformation, saying IP offers strong incentives for creativity, job creation, and business development.
PACRA Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chewe Chilufya, encouraged universities to translate their research into tangible economic value through patenting.
“Universities must start viewing research as a revenue-generating activity by commercialising their innovations,” he stated.
Officially opening the seminar, UNZA Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Boniface Namangala, called for a paradigm shift in how research is conducted across Africa, urging institutions to focus on research that drives practical solutions and societal transformation.
The training, which began yesterday at UNZA’s Confucius Institute Multi-purpose Hall, is expected to strengthen institutional capacity in patent management and promote innovation-led development across Zambia’s higher education sector.
