ARIPO Powers Africa’s Innovation Drive at SARIMA 2025
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) will participate in the 2025 Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) Conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa, from 2 to 5 September 2025.
Held under the theme “Expect the Unexpected: Unlocking the Value of Research and Innovation Management”, the conference provides a platform for ARIPO to highlight its role in equipping African research institutions with intellectual property (IP) knowledge and skills, particularly in environments where IP has historically been undervalued.
Central to ARIPO’s efforts is the ARIPO Academy, its flagship capacity-building platform dedicated to skills development and knowledge dissemination across the continent. Through its Masters in Intellectual Property (MIP) degree programmes, professional training sessions, and workshops, the Academy has nurtured a new generation of IP professionals now leading innovation and research management in Africa and beyond.
“Through the ARIPO Academy, we are not only training professionals but also shaping the intellectual property landscape of Africa,” said Bemanya Twebaze, ARIPO Director General. “The graduates and researchers we work with are driving IP policy, managing innovation, commercialising research outputs, and contributing directly to Africa’s socio-economic development.”
At SARIMA 2025, ARIPO will demonstrate how its initiatives support universities, research centres, and innovation managers in leveraging IP tools to transform research into practical solutions. The organisation emphasises bridging the gap between research and commercialisation to ensure African innovations are both protected and brought to market to meet pressing societal needs.
Approaching its Golden Jubilee, ARIPO continues to champion regional IP systems as a cornerstone of Africa’s innovation and trade ambitions. For nearly five decades, the organisation has been committed to advancing capacity building, skills transfer, and knowledge sharing as key drivers of sustainable growth.
