Call for Papers
Welcome to the All Africa IP Summit 2026 Call for Papers. We are accepting abstract submissions for the upcoming summit. The summit will be an in-person conference with a diverse audience, featuring high-level panel discussions and breakout sessions. Participants will include industry personnel, professionals, academics, civil society.
Objective of the Call for Papers
This Call for Papers seeks to:
- Advance cutting-edge research on IP in Africa
- Bridge the gap between policy, research, and business practice
- Support implementation of the AfCFTA IP Protocol
- Promote innovation, industrialisation, and creative economy growth
- Generate actionable insights for governments, investors, and industry stakeholders
Submissions must demonstrate clear relevance to Africa, with strong analytical depth and practical implications
The Theme of the Summit:
“Mainstreaming Intellectual Property for Africa’s Trade, Industrial and Creative Economy Transformation”
Thematic Areas
Intellectual Property and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Paper under this theme should explore how intellectual property systems can support the implementation of AfCFTA and facilitate intra-African trade. Papers may examine the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights, regulatory harmonisation across African jurisdictions, cross-border enforcement mechanisms, and the integration of IP into trade facilitation frameworks. Contributions that analyse how SMEs and exporters can leverage IP to increase competitiveness in regional value chains are particularly encouraged.
Intellectual Property and Africa’s Industrialisation Agenda
This thematic area call for paper focuses on the role of intellectual property in driving industrial development, manufacturing competitiveness, and technology upgrading across Africa. Papers may explore patents, industrial designs, technology transfer mechanisms, research commercialization, and innovation systems that support Africa’s industrial transformation. Contributions examining IP strategies within priority sectors such as pharmaceuticals, green manufacturing, agribusiness processing, and digital manufacturing are welcome.
Africa Digital Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property
Africa’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, raising important questions about how intellectual property frameworks should evolve. Papers under this theme may address issues related to artificial intelligence, machine learning innovations, software patents, algorithm ownership, data governance, and the protection of digital platforms. Contributions examining regulatory challenges surrounding generative AI, open-source innovation, and digital entrepreneurship in Africa are particularly encouraged.
Copyright, Creative Industries and Cultural Economy
Africa’s music, film, fashion, gaming, and digital content sectors are experiencing significant growth but continue to face challenges related to copyright protection, royalty collection, and digital distribution. Papers in this area may examine copyright management systems, collective management organisations, digital rights management technologies, and business models for monetising creative works. Research on African cultural heritage, traditional arts, and emerging digital content ecosystems is also encouraged.
Trademark Strategy, Branding and Market Competitiveness
Strong brands are critical for African businesses seeking to expand across regional and global markets. This thematic area invites research on trademark protection, brand strategy, consumer trust, and reputation management in African markets. Papers may explore the role of trademarks in export competitiveness, brand protection against counterfeiting, and the development of African global brands in sectors such as fashion, food products, and digital services.
Geographical Indications and African Agricultural Value Chains
Geographical indications (GIs) provide an opportunity for African producers to protect the reputation and economic value of region-specific products. This theme invites papers examining the use of GIs to enhance agricultural exports, protect indigenous products, and strengthen rural economies. Contributions may explore case studies involving products such as coffee, cocoa, tea, spices, textiles, and other heritage goods that have strong geographic identity.
Intellectual Property, Innovation Financing and Investment
Access to finance remains a major barrier for many African innovators and creative enterprises. Papers under this theme may examine intellectual property valuation, IP-backed financing mechanisms, venture capital investment in innovation-driven firms, and the role of financial institutions in supporting IP-based enterprises. Research exploring how African startups can leverage IP assets to attract investment and scale their operations is particularly encouraged.
Africa Technology Transfer and University–Industry Collaboration
African universities and research institutions generate significant knowledge that often remains under-commercialised. This thematic area focuses on technology transfer offices, research commercialisation models, public-private partnerships, and policies that promote collaboration between academia and industry. Papers may explore successful models of knowledge transfer, research spin-offs, and innovation ecosystems across Africa.
Intellectual Property Enforcement, Counterfeiting and Consumer Protection
Weak enforcement mechanisms continue to undermine intellectual property systems across many African markets. Papers under this theme may examine anti-counterfeiting strategies, customs enforcement mechanisms, digital piracy, and cross-border collaboration among regulatory institutions. Contributions that analyse how improved enforcement frameworks can support fair competition and protect consumers are encouraged.
Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Cultural Heritage
Africa possesses rich indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity resources that require protection from misappropriation. This thematic area invites research on legal frameworks for protecting traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and folklore. Papers may examine benefit-sharing mechanisms, community intellectual property rights, and the intersection between indigenous knowledge systems and global intellectual property regimes.
Intellectual Property and the Creative Digital Economy
The rise of digital platforms has transformed how creative works are produced, distributed, and monetised. This theme focuses on the intersection between IP and digital creative industries including music streaming, film distribution platforms, digital art, NFTs, and gaming. Papers may examine platform governance, revenue distribution models, and opportunities for African creators to capture greater value in global digital markets.
Emerging Technologies, Frontier Innovation and IP Governance
Rapid technological advancements such as blockchain, biotechnology, robotics, and quantum computing are creating new challenges for intellectual property governance. This thematic area invites research examining how African IP systems can adapt to emerging technologies. Contributions may address regulatory frameworks for new technologies, ethical implications of innovation, and strategies for ensuring Africa benefits from frontier technological developments.
Intellectual Property Policy, Governance and Institutional Development
This thematic area focuses on the development of effective national and regional intellectual property systems in Africa. Papers may examine the role of IP offices, policy coordination among ministries, legal reforms, and institutional capacity building. Contributions that analyse comparative IP governance models across African countries are encouraged.
SMEs, Startups and Intellectual Property Commercialisation
Small and medium-sized enterprises represent the backbone of African economies but often lack awareness or resources to effectively manage intellectual property. Papers in this theme may examine strategies for improving IP awareness among SMEs, building innovation capacity, and integrating IP management into business development programmes. Case studies of successful African startups leveraging IP for growth are particularly welcome.
Submission Guidelines:
Please adhere to the following guidelines when preparing your submission:
- Abstract length: 200–300 words
- Full paper: Maximum 8,000 words
- Language: English or French
- Include:
- Title
- Author(s) name(s)
- Institutional affiliation
- Email and contact details
Out-of-Scope Topics (IMPORTANT)
To ensure quality and relevance, the following will NOT be considered:
- Purely descriptive or non-analytical papers
- Studies with no clear African relevance
- Legal discussions without policy, business, or economic implications
- Previously published or non-original work
- Papers lacking empirical, conceptual, or applied contribution
- General innovation or business studies without IP linkage
Submissions must demonstrate:
- Originality
- Analytical rigor
- Policy and/or business relevance
- Clear alignment with summit themes
Submission Process:
- The Abstract and paper must be in English or French
- The abstract (200 -300 words count) should be submitted along with the title of the paper, the author’s name, the name of the author’s institution, the author’s email, and telephone number, etc.
- The abstract should be uploaded to the platform provided, and notify the contact person via email.
- The summit advisory council will review and vet all submissions
Review Process
All submissions will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review by at least three expert reviewers.
Evaluation criteria include:
- Originality and innovation
- Analytical depth
- Relevance to Africa
- Policy and practical implications
- Contribution to IP discourse
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 20 July 2026
- Full Paper Submission: 1 September 2026
- Presentation Submission (5–15 slides): 30 September 2026
Publication Opportunity
Selected high-quality papers will be published in an edited volume with a reputable international academic publisher, subject to final peer review and editorial standards.
Ethics and Originality Clause
All submissions must be:
- Original and unpublished
- Not under consideration elsewhere
- Free from plagiarism
Authors must comply with international academic integrity standards. Any breach will result in immediate disqualification.
Participation and Presentation
Accepted authors will be invited to present at the Summit. Presentations should be:
- Policy-relevant
- Insight-driven
- Focused on practical implications
Contact Information
For inquiries:
- Email: africaipsummit@it-rc.org
- Contact Person: Shukurat Amosa
- LinkedIn: Shukurat Amosa
Closing Statement
We look forward to receiving high-quality contributions that will shape the future of intellectual property in Africa and contribute to the continent’s trade, industrial, and creative economy transformation.
Signed
Sand Mba-Kalu
Chairman, Organising Committee
All Africa IP Summit 2026