IP for Sustainable Economic Development

    By Nsama Mataka and Lenganji Sikapizye

Every April 26^th, the World Celebrates the Intellectual Property (IP) to learn about the role that Intellectual property rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. This day is spearheaded by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

Furthermore, through the Southern Africa Research and Innovation Management (SARIMA) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation(WIPO), NSTC members of staff are undertaking IP courses in order to capacitate them in this area. Recently, NSTC took part in the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations which were hosted by the Patents Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA). 

NSTC took advantage of this opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of Intellectual property in the science sector. The Council also showcased a project by a University of Zambia Researcher Dr Onesmus Munyati entitled enhancement of Photo - Conversion Efficiency in PCMBH: P3HT:SQ3 ternary system using plasmonic Cu-Nano to the members of the public who visited the stand.

With so much creativity in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), this day is a constant reminder to innovators to protect their innovations in order for them to acquire the maximum benefits from their ‘brain child’ innovations/projects.

Against this background, that the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) have put up interventions aimed at encouraging Zambian innovators to protect their inventions. To do this, NSTC is in the process of developing standalone IP guidelines for NSTC funded projects.

According to the United Nations (UN) system task team on the Post 2015 UN development agenda in their thematic think piece entitled Science, technology and intellectual property rights: The vision for development. A major challenge for many developing countries seeking to strengthen productive capacity, and to invest in private sector development and competitiveness is the need to strengthen national innovation capacity. Part of the solution to that lies in using the intellectual property (IP) system for the protection and promotion of domestic creations, innovations and inventions, for attracting foreign direct investments and, hence, contributing to the transfer of technology, and to support the development of national scientific and technological infrastructure.