‘Innovation key to Malawi 2063’ claims UNDP
MVALO—Protection is designed to stimulate innovation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said development and implementation of innovative solutions must be accompanied by robust intellectual property management strategies to safeguard valuable innovations and contribute towards national development.
UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara said the tenets are essential to the country on its path towards attaining growth aspirations as embedded in the long-term national development blueprint, the Malawi 2063.
He was speaking Thursday in Lilongwe at the opening of a two-day national conference on intellectual property and innovation for the attainment of Malawi 2063 goals.
“Proper intellectual property management not only protects the rights of innovators but also encourages investment in research and development, drives technological progress and supports economic growth,” he said.
Komatsubara said UNDP is committed to supporting the country in realising its goals including the Malawi 2063 agenda.
Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo said the intellectual property system can help facilitate innovation and creativity in the country which can, in turn, propel the attainment of Malawi 2063 goals.
“The protection of patents, trademarks, designs and copyright is designed to stimulate innovation and creativity as well as enhance business competitiveness in the commercialisation of goods and services,” he said.
Mvalo then urged the participants to move beyond the conventional wisdom of the connection between intellectual property and innovation and economic development, to discuss how they can utilise the intellectual property system as a lever for innovation to propel agriculture commercialisation and productivity, as well as industrialisation.
The conference has attracted senior government officials including Cabinet ministers, the Department of the Registrar General, the National Planning Commission, the National Commission of Science and Technology and representatives from international organisations including the World Intellectual Property Organisation, UNDP, the private sector, innovators, and academic institutions.
The conference has been organised by the Malawi Government in cooperation with WIPO and UNDP and is, being held under the theme ‘Building Innovative Capacity for Economic Transformation’.
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Matilda Chimwaza Majawa is a Features Reporter at Times Group. She is passionate about women and girls empowerment.
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