OAPI and AGF Launch €60.9 Million Partnership to Boost Innovation in Africa
The African Organisation for Intellectual Property (OAPI) and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) have joined forces in a landmark €60.9 million initiative aimed at financing 1,000 innovative projects across 17 African nations by 2030. This ambitious partnership is designed to transform patents into commercially viable ventures, fueling entrepreneurship and technological advancement across the continent.
Countries set to benefit from the program include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal, among others. By combining financial backing with technical support, the agreement seeks to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with patents, bridging the gap between innovation and economic success.
This initiative addresses a critical gap in Africa’s innovation ecosystem. The continent currently holds just 4.11% of patents registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), down from 4.20% in December 2024. Moreover, 97.78% of these patents are concentrated in just five countries: Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia.
At the core of the initiative are two crucial mechanisms: OAPI’s €7.62 million capital investment in AGF, and a guarantee window covering up to 75% of loan risks for innovative SMEs with patents. These measures aim to provide greater access to funding, enabling businesses to thrive without the financial burdens that often hinder patent commercialisation.
One of the central goals of this initiative is to bridge the gap between intellectual property and commercial success. Africa boasts a wealth of innovative thinkers, inventors, and entrepreneurs who often face barriers in securing funding and commercialising their patents. By providing financial support and strategic guidance, OAPI and AGF aim to transform patents into commercially viable ventures, fostering a thriving ecosystem where creativity translates into tangible economic opportunities.
Beyond financial support, the program will offer business model auditing, intellectual property expertise, and personalised mentoring from industry specialists. These resources will help innovators refine their strategies, protect their ideas, and maximize the market potential of their patented solutions.
By encouraging innovation in socially impactful areas, OAPI and AGF are ensuring that Africa’s technological advancements translate into meaningful improvements in quality of life. The collaboration between OAPI and AGF is designed to foster a knowledge-based economy, where IP assets contribute to wealth creation, job opportunities, and global investment.
This groundbreaking collaboration underscores Africa’s commitment to fostering innovation as a catalyst for economic growth. By unlocking the commercial value of intellectual property, OAPI and AGF are paving the way for a new generation of entrepreneurs and inventors who can shape the continent’s future.