Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, Frehiwot Tamru, has called on the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) to expand its mandate beyond intellectual property registration and play a more active role in driving innovation, technology development and economic growth.
The Minister made the call during a visit to the Authority, accompanied by the Ministry’s State Minister and Directors General of institutions under the Ministry. The visit focused on assessing EIPA’s institutional capacity, operational performance and progress in fulfilling its national responsibilities.
During the visit, EIPA Director General Woldu Yimesil presented the Authority’s achievements over the past five years, its first-quarter performance for the 2019 Ethiopian fiscal year, institutional readiness and operational challenges. The briefing was followed by discussions between the Minister, the institutional Directors General and the Authority’s leadership.
Tamru commended the Authority’s leadership for efforts to improve its working environment and infrastructure. However, she stressed that these improvements should translate into better public services and measurable economic benefits. She urged EIPA to establish an intellectual property system that enables citizens to generate ideas, protect their creations and transform them into commercially viable products, services and solutions.
The Minister also called for nationwide awareness campaigns and accessible, transparent services to encourage greater participation by individuals, researchers and businesses. She emphasised the importance of supporting Ethiopian companies in registering and using trademarks, including securing recognition for local brands in international markets.
To strengthen innovation and commercialisation, Tamru urged EIPA to establish stronger partnerships connecting inventors and creators with universities, research institutions, manufacturers, investors, financial institutions and markets. These collaborations are expected to support the testing, development, financing and commercialisation of new ideas.
She further highlighted the importance of using research and intellectual property information to address challenges in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing and other sectors. Greater use of patent information, licensing and utility models was encouraged to improve Ethiopia’s capacity to develop, acquire, adapt and apply technologies.
On regulatory reform, Tamru directed the Authority to review existing policies, proclamations, regulations and directives to identify gaps affecting intellectual property protection, technology transfer, commercialisation and institutional coordination. The proposed review is also expected to examine intellectual property financing, rights ownership and valuation, as well as financial risk management, with reform proposals developed through research and stakeholder consultation.
The Minister also instructed EIPA to fully digitalise its application, examination, registration and related services. The digital system should enable applicants to access services remotely, track applications and obtain clear information on requirements and processing timelines.
To improve evidence-based planning, the Authority was asked to analyse intellectual property data across patents, utility models, trademarks and copyright. The data should be categorised by sector, region, gender, applicant type and domestic or foreign origin. Performance evaluations should also extend beyond registration figures to measure innovation utilisation, licensing agreements, financing secured, market connections, productivity, employment and economic growth.
Tamru called for continuous monitoring of technological, market and legal developments, particularly those related to digital technologies and artificial intelligence. She emphasised the need for a clear policy, legal and institutional framework governing the origin and ownership of inventions and creative works in the context of AI. While acknowledging AI’s potential to improve efficiency, she cautioned against excessive reliance on the technology at the expense of human creativity, research and independent thinking.
The Minister further directed EIPA to align its vision, mission and next five-year strategic plan with Ethiopia’s National Grand Strategy, digital transformation priorities and broader development objectives. The plan should establish the organisational structure, professional capacity, accountability mechanisms, partnerships and measurable targets needed to implement the proposed reforms.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Authority through coordination and assistance to advance the reform agenda. The visit concluded with a tour of EIPA’s operational facilities and ongoing office construction.
