Three Centuries and Counting: The Emergence and Development of Intellectual Property...

Authored by: Caroline Ncube. This chapter provides an historical account of the development of IP on the African continent which highlights how the introduction of IP systems and their transposed legislation displaced existing knowledge governance systems and entrenched a primarily extractor-biased IP system.

The Maker Movement Across North Africa

Authored by: Nagham ElHoussamy and Dr. Nagla Rizk Abstract: This Working Paper sets out findings from research exploring the growing maker movement across North Africa, focusing...

MSMEs and Open Collaborative Innovation in Botswana

Authored by: Njoku Ola Ama and Francis Nathan Okurut Abstract: This study explores the adoption, by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Botswana, of...

Genetic Resources, Justice and Reconciliation: Canada and Global Access and Benefit...

Edited by: Chidi Oguamanam. When the oral history of a medicinal plant as a genetic resource is used to develop a blockbuster drug, how is the contribution of Indigenous Peoples recognized in research and commercialization? What other ethical, legal, and policy issues come into play? Is it accurate for countries to self-identify as users or providers of genetic resources?

L’accès au savoir en Afrique : le rôle du droit d’auteur

Ce livre, publié en 2011, permet de mieux saisir les enjeux juridiques et pratiques que posent les droits d’auteur pour l’accès au matériel didactique en Afrique et cerne les leçons apprises, les politiques et les pratiques susceptibles d’améliorer cet accès.

Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation: Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA...

To assist trade policymakers in the development of a framework, this paper explores IP issues, perspectives, and priorities related to both the CFTA and PAIPO. It suggests that process and substance issues are each important to create fair and balanced IP systems on the continent that stimulate innovation, growth, and competition.

ICTs in Agricultural Production and Potential Deployment in Operationalising Geographical Indications...

Authored by: Tesh W. Dagne and Chidi Oguamanam Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the role that agricultural information and communication technologies...

Trade Rules as Regulatory Tools for Inclusive Innovation: Connecting Digital Trade...

This report scopes and builds towards a new research agenda on the regulation of innovation. Grounded in the findings of a 2021-22 Open AIR Scoping Study funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the report supports the development of a collaborative research programme to improve the regulation of innovations in priority areas including health, the digital economy, and clean technology.

Complexities of Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship by Two Indigenous Organisations...

Authored by: Britta Rutert and Cath Traynor Abstract:  In this Working Paper, we present our findings in respect of the innovative and entrepreneurial behaviour...

Annual Report 2020

In 2020 the theme of the Annual Report is “Resilience”. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Open AIR made significant research progress. Field research was...