Open call: WIPO acceleration programme in Nigeria

The WIPO IP-based initiative, modelled after IP management clinics, empowers entrepreneurs and start-ups across various fields including music, to leverage intellectual property for business development and financing within the tech and innovation ecosystem.

The pilot phase of the IP Labs project (August-December 2023) trained and mentored 56 start-up founders in Nigeria’s tech and innovation sectors. Phase II (Labs 2.0) will expand to support 300 early-stage start-ups.

The project will be implemented in two stages for the duration of seven months:

• Stage one, from October to December 2024, entails acceleration training modules while also introducing intellectual property to 300 early-stage SMEs.
• Stage two, occurring from January to April 2025, focuses on the IPMC training and mentorship with specialised IP and Business Developments Experts.

The application deadline is 20 September.

Who can apply

IP Labs Project welcomes all individuals or teams with technology driven innovative ideas that addresses real world challenges in their communities and globally. 

To qualify, these solutions must have some form of intellectual property component to them.

The main selection criteria include the following considerations or requirements:

• Start-up must be an early-stage start-up with a solution to an identified local problem.
• Start-up idea must be subject matter of an intellectual property possible of industrial application.
• Green technologies are greatly encouraged.
• Women-owned start-ups are strongly encouraged.
• Founders of the start-up must be available for the virtual seven-month curriculum.

What to expect

The overall objective of IP Labs 2.0 is to build capacity in the technology industry in Nigeria by enabling early-stage start-ups identify and utilise the IP system for business growth and commercialisation. This programme has the following specific objectives:

• Train innovators and entrepreneurs on the importance of intellectual property in protecting their ideas and building a successful start-up.
• Create enabling environment for start-up-investor relationship establishment and provide mentorship to start-ups through the mentorship sessions in stage one of the project.
• Create success stories of start-ups that have leveraged IP for business by highlighting the impact of the IPMCs for participants at the concluding public ‘Demo Day’ event.
• Encourage IP registrations in Nigeria by providing IP registration through the IPMCs.
• Pilot the use of the adaptation of the enterprising ideas which was commissioned with the last edition of the IP Labs.

Interested applicants may apply here.

View the original call here.