Protecting Innovations, Indirectly, Through AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA is a free trade area founded in 2018, with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021. It was created among 54 of the 55 African Union nations. One of the important, if not the most important, tools for encouraging and protecting innovations is through patent protection. A country's economic growth can be, directly and indirectly, linked to the number of patent registrations filed in the country.

Africa is reported as the continent with the least amount of patent registrations, from both residents and non-residents. Whether the low level of domestic patent registrations is due to a lack of education and innovation or monetary factors is a debatable discussion.  Nevertheless, it is clear that a robust policy which encourages and protects innovation in Africa is necessary, and that such a policy should focus on innovation emanating in Africa, whilst providing equal recognition of foreign innovation.