26th April, 2017 marked the World Intellectual Property Day in recognition of the role that copyright, patents, trademarks & geographical indications, among other intellectual property rights, play in encouraging innovation and creativity. The theme of this year’s celebrations was ‘Innovation-Improving Lives’ and centered on the effect of innovation on people’s lives and recognizing the role played by intellectual property in supporting and encouraging innovation.
While intellectual property enthusiasts and stakeholders across the globe united to mark this important day in different fashion, here in Kenya, various stakeholders were not left behind. The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), collaborated with other key stakeholders to organize an exhibition from 24th – 26th April centered around this year’s theme and also held a workshop to recognize successful innovators. The exhibition and workshop were held at the Kenya International Conference Centre in Nairobi.
Elsewhere, the Innovation Council of Kenya (INCK) held its innovation week to encourage creativity and innovation. The council organized a number of events including distribution of booklets and posters on intellectual property as well as providing free legal advice to the public on matters intellectual property.
The key message highlighted globally was that, innovation plays an important role in improving our livelihoods, for instance, through improved healthcare and agriculture. The introduction of new medicines and improved crop varieties cannot be gainsaid. Further, intellectual property has played a key role in fostering innovation by providing an incentive to investors as well as rewarding innovators for their creativity.
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