In association with the ICT Association of Uganda (ICTAU), the Ministry of Information, Communications Technology, and National Guidance will hold the Intellectual Property (IP) Conference on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
It is expected that the IP Conference, which takes place at the Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala, will give innovators thorough understanding of intellectual property rights and the role they play in innovation.
Additionally, it will give them the much-needed platform to present their discoveries and ask for assistance with the evaluation, registration, and commercialization of relevant intellectual property rights.
The IP conference, according to Shirley Gladys Nakyejwe, the Intellectual Property Management Specialist at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, aims to bridge the ownership and commercialization gap that adolescent female innovators face when attempting to turn their ideas into viable products.
“The IP Conference encourages inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs to push boundaries and take risks,” Ms. Nakyejwe stated. “It aims to give innovators a platform, resources, and opportunities to succeed in their commercialization journey.” Female innovators, inventors, and writers frequently lose out on the advantages and protections of intellectual property due to the gender gap in STEM invention.
By advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls via innovation and creativity, the one-day conference “Harnessing IP in the Digital Era to Advance Gender Equality” would significantly aid in the achievement of SDG 5.
According to Ms. Nakyejwe, the conference will provide a free platform for innovators and inventors to interact with experts, stakeholders, and possible partners, thereby cultivating a supportive ecosystem for female innovators in STEM fields.
The figures that are currently available show how difficult it is to close the gender gap in intellectual property in Uganda. The startling fact that women make up only 16 percent of patent applicants—especially in the STEM fields—serves as more evidence of this.
The IP conference, according to Mr. Gideon Nkurunungi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICT Association of Uganda, which is co-hosting the event, is a new chapter in Ugandan innovation history.
“Paving the Way for Innovation: A remarkable change is about to occur in our country. This transformation is driven by innovation, which needs a strong foundation to flourish. We pledge to work together to forge this framework today, cultivating an environment that fosters innovation and creativity. Mr. Nkurunungi stated, “Our actions here, shaping an ecosystem that not only fosters but accelerates innovation, start Uganda’s climb up the global IP rankings.”
“To merely follow global trends is to chase the shadows of greater nations forever,” he continued. Rather than becoming the inheritors of the future, we must instead forge ahead and become its architects. To create the unheard-of, we must expand our minds beyond the norm. Every IT expert here at ICTAU is challenged to dream bigger, think forward, and work to create patents that open the door to tomorrow’s innovations. Your ideas and thoughts serve as the canvas on which we shall paint a better future at this conference.
A UNESCO research states that prejudice, preconceptions, a lack of resources, and unequal opportunities present significant barriers for young women in Uganda who want to work in STEM fields, preventing them from fully participating in and contributing to innovation.
It is anticipated that the IP conference, which is being hosted in conjunction with World IP Week, would raise awareness of and foster a deeper understanding of the advantages of managing IP rights for female inventors.
According to the organizer, innovators will acquire a more profound comprehension of intellectual property rights and their strategic application.
The highly anticipated Intellectual Property Toolkit, which will be unveiled by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance during the event, is anticipated to give innovators practical tools to help them overcome the challenges of managing and protecting intellectual property, thereby advancing their innovation journey.
Young female innovators, inventors, and authors from all around the nation will come together for the conference to network and exchange experiences related to intellectual property with important players in the field, such as the Ministries of ICT & NG, the Secretariat of STI—OP, the URSB IP Office, IP Advocates, and Women already in STEM.
