On 16 April 2024, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) will join forces with various institutions to launch the World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) celebrations. They are the North-West University (NWU), the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).
This year’s event – themed "IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity" – will take place on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus.
World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) is observed annually on 26 April to raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact daily life. The World Intellectual Property Organisation established the event in 2000 to celebrate creativity and the contributions made by innovators and creators to the development of economies and societies worldwide. The WIPD celebration is a global event that also seek to raise awareness and promote understanding of intellectual property (IP) and its importance to innovation and creativity. This year’s campaign is based on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – a blueprint to create a better and more sustainable future for all.
The launch on the Potchefstroom Campus will include presentations from partner institutions, IP competitions, insightful panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions. The target audience is diverse, including small and medium-sized businesses, the general public, high school and university students, innovators, creators, and aspiring youth entrepreneurs.
"We have an exciting media launch planned, and we hope that this event raises awareness about the importance of intellectual property in the development of our country," says Zenoyise John, WIPD 2024 media team leader.
For more information on the event, please contact Zenoyise on 083 522 4555, or Vukosi Mathale, specialist: technology marketing, on 082 653 2038.
