All Africa Intellectual Property Summit: The Ultimate Catch or Just Another Conference?

The All-Africa Intellectual Property Summit (AAIPS) 6th Edition is happening this year, from 12th to 14th November 2025 in Dakar, Senegal.  For those wondering if it is worth attending, the answer is a resounding yes. Founded in 2019 by the International Trade and Research Centre (ITRC) — a public policy, research, and engagement think tank — the AAIPS was created to strengthen Africa’s IP ecosystem and address broader socio-economic challenges across the Global South. What started as a small intellectual property town hall meeting in Nigeria has now grown into a pan-African movement, drawing professionals from over 30 countries, united by one goal: to make IP work for Africa, on Africa’s terms.

The AAIPS is more than a conference. It’s a space for transformation — a space where IP practitioners, policymakers, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, academics, and legal minds gather to reimagine what IP could look like when shaped by African priorities. The energy is in the room: in the roundtable debates, in the policy dialogues, in the keynote addresses by Africa’s top IP minds, and in the research papers that push the envelope of what’s possible. This summit doesn’t just revisit the basics of IP — it digs deeper into how IP intersects with trade, innovation, creativity, policy, and law. Participants explore Africa’s legal and institutional frameworks, challenge outdated colonial IP systems, and brainstorm pathways for building inclusive and future-ready IP regimes that truly reflect the continent’s potential. A central focus of the summit is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — the world’s largest free trade zone. As Africa aims to boost intra-continental trade and innovation, IP systems must be aligned to support that vision. AAIPS offers a key platform for shaping how IP frameworks can drive AfCFTA’s success. So, why should you attend? Here are just a few compelling reasons:

1. 1. Shaping the Future of IP in Africa

For far too long, Africa’s IP landscape has been shaped by external interests. Many of the treaties, laws, and agreements we uphold today weren’t designed with Africa’s needs in mind. Now, more than ever, it’s time for Africans to lead the IP conversation. From Cape Town to Cairo, from Kinshasa to Mogadishu — Africa’s IP systems need urgent reform. And that reform must be collaborative. The AAIPS provides the platform where we can gather as equals, challenge one another, share country-specific experiences, and walk away not just inspired, but equipped to implement change within our nations and regions. A key question from the AAIPS 5th edition was, “How can IP work for Africa, and what can we do differently to drive change?”. The proposed solution- Africanization of the IP system by developing a homegrown African IP framework. The detailed report is available here.

2. 2. Driving Homegrown Solutions

Africa is brimming with untapped creativity and innovation potential. While global innovation indices may tell one story, the reality on the ground is different. Our innovators are developing tech, reimagining agriculture, disrupting health care, and pioneering cultural industries — but they lack the protection and policy support to scale. At the 5th Edition in Kigali, platforms like AfricanLaw showcased bold visions for building an effective African IP ecosystem with equipped IP practitioners necessary to support the stakeholders and meet the continent’s IP needs. This year in Dakar, we expect even more exhibitors like startups, tech leaders, IP Offices, and entrepreneurs to showcase how Africa can promote IP while owning and commercializing its creativity and innovation. If you are looking to showcase, connect, collaborate or invest in Africa’s homegrown solutions — this is your chance.

3. 3. Building Strategic Partnerships

Real impact requires cross-border collaboration. With over 50 African nations, multiple regional economic blocs, and two regional IP organizations — ARIPO and OAPI — achieving success requires strong partnerships, coordinated efforts, and a unified strategic approach. AAIPS unites policymakers, legal experts, and innovators to align strategies and forge partnerships across Africa’s diverse IP landscape. Collaboration is not optional — it’s the foundation of a thriving, unified Africa. And with the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights, the time to align our IP strategies continentally is now.

4. 4. Showcasing the African Innovation Potential

The Africa IP Summit is intentionally hosted in cities that reflect the continent’s growing innovation landscape. Each location is chosen not just for logistics, but to highlight real, local stories of innovation, creativity, and impact. Kigali, Rwanda, our 2024 host, was a clear reflection of that vision. With its commitment to digital governance, entrepreneurship, and youth-led innovation, Kigali showed what is possible when bold policies meet practical action. Now, we head to Dakar, Senegal. Known for its rich culture, emerging fintech scene, and dedication to education and the creative economy, Dakar continues the tradition of spotlighting cities that are shaping Africa’s future in real, tangible ways. And here’s something special—participants help choose the next host city. So if you’d like the Summit to come to your city, don’t miss your chance. Register for AAIPS 2025 and cast your vote!

Discover the city of Dakar here 😃 5. Understanding and Influencing the AfCFTA IP Protocol One of the most pressing and timely sub-themes at this year’s summit will be the implementation of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Protocol. As IP is a central pillar of continental trade, the need to understand, shape, and support this Protocol is critical. How can we take advantage of the AfCFTA?

Whether you’re from a national IP office, a university, an SME, or an innovation hub, the AAIPS will help you engage directly with AfCFTA stakeholders, understand how the Protocol can support your work, and identify ways to contribute to its successful implementation. If you care about Africa’s future, if you want to be part of reimagining IP from a Pan-African lens, if you believe in the power of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation — then this is the room you need to be in. Will you be part of the conversation? Join us in Dakar this November from 12th to 14th. Let’s make IP work for Africa. Click to Register and secure your seat!