The African Regional Intellectual
Property Organization (ARIPO) remains a vital hub for intellectual property
(IP) protection in Africa. In 2024, the Organization recorded a diverse range
of sector engagement, international participation, and regional entrepreneurial
activity in IP filings.
This article analyses the top
applicants who used the ARIPO IP system across four key categories: patents,
trademarks, industrial designs, and utility models. It also examines the top
innovation areas, the top countries globally, and the top ARIPO Member States.
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PATENTS
Global Pharmaceutical Giants
and Tech Innovators Lead the Way
Pharmaceutical companies were the
most active patent filers, with Eli Lilly and Company (USA) leading, primarily
in pharmaceuticals, organic fine chemistry, and biotechnology. This
suggests ongoing efforts to protect drug innovations in the African market,
likely driven by public
health initiatives and the
emergence of new markets in the region. Other major pharmaceutical players
included:
1. Gilead Sciences,
Inc.
2. Amgen Inc.
3. AstraZeneca AB
The increase in biotech and
health-related filings underscores Africa’s growing importance as both a market
and a source of clinical research opportunities.
Nokia Technologies OY (Finland)
applications focused on digital communication and telecommunications, which
highlights the increasing development of digital infrastructure across Africa.
Casale SA (Switzerland) and Rosenergoatom (Russia) also stood out with their
filings in chemical engineering, metallurgy, and environmental technology,
suggesting a cross-border interest in industrial and energy sectors.
The United States led the charge
in patent applications, a clear indication of its sustained interest in
protecting technological innovations across African markets. The figures
represent a diverse range of global players, with emerging economies such as
India and China continuing to expand their presence in Africa’s innovation
ecosystem.
Filing from ARIPO Member
States: Mauritius Leads in Innovation
Among ARIPO’s 22 Member States,
Mauritius emerged as the top filer of patent applications in 2024. Zimbabwe
followed closely, while Namibia took the third spot. Uganda and Mozambique each
contributed, demonstrating early but promising engagement in patent-based innovation.
TRADEMARKS
Regional Brands Thrive Amid
Global Competition
In 2024, multinational and
regional firms continued leveraging ARIPO’s centralised trademark filing system
to secure protection across multiple jurisdictions. This has resulted in strong
engagement from African companies, particularly in the fast-moving consumer
goods (FMCG) and digital sectors.
Zambian Firms Showing Strong
Momentum
Bigtree Beverages Limited
(Zambia) led all trademark applicants, primarily in Class 32, which covers
non-alcoholic beverages and beer. This underscores the region’s growing
investment in brand development and market presence.
Other notable Zambian companies
included:
· Nyama Soya Limited –
filings related to food products
· Yoyo Foods Limited –
filings in processed foods
These filings demonstrate a
rising trend of regional players actively protecting their brands within ARIPO
Member States.
Global Participation Across
Diverse Sectors
International firms also
maintained a strong presence:
· Roche Diagnostics GMBH
(Germany) filed applications across Classes 5, 9, and 10, covering
pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and medical devices.
· MTN Group (South Africa)
filed applications in Classes 9, 38, 41, and 42, reflecting its focus on
technology, broadcasting, education, and software services.
The wide range of Nice Classes
among applicants illustrates the increasing diversity of brand protection
needs, particularly in healthcare, telecommunications, logistics, and
hospitality.
Strong Regional Representation
Regional economies were well
represented in 2024’s trademark filings, with Zimbabwe leading, followed by
South Africa and China. This strong performance by African states underscores
the growing local awareness of intellectual property rights as a crucial
foundation for business growth and economic development.
Trademark Filings from ARIPO
Member States
Among ARIPO Member States,
Zimbabwe continued to lead in trademark filings, far surpassing those of other
countries. Zambia and Mauritius ranked second and third, respectively.
Other active contributors
included Tanzania, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda, Mozambique, and Liberia,
each playing a significant role in advancing brand protection and fostering
innovation-driven economies.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
A China–South Africa Tie
The design category saw a
three-way regional and international balance, with China and South Africa tied
for the lead.
The balanced distribution in
design filings reflects a blend of international investment and regional
creative output in fashion, manufacturing, and product design sectors.
Bottles, Interfaces, and
Automobiles Stand Out
There has been significant
interest in design protection, particularly in the areas of consumer products,
automotive innovation, and user interface design.
Beiersdorf AG from Germany was
the top design filer, submitting applications related to packaging
(specifically cosmetic bottles) and graphic design. This highlights the
increasing importance of product appearance and user experience in consumer
goods.
Key filings included:
· Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.
(China) for automotive designs
· Koninklijke Philips N.V.
(Netherlands) for graphical user interface (GUI) animations in medical
technology
· Acacia Food and Beverages
(Zambia) for packaging bottles
The design category has showcased
both local and international companies that prioritize visual identity, product
functionality, and brand distinction in competitive markets. This trend
emphasises both aesthetic and functional design as key assets for product
differentiation and
market success.
Grassroots Innovation with a
Focus on Local Needs
While utility model filings were
fewer, they provide insight into grassroots innovation, especially in public
health, mechanical engineering, and computing.
Key highlights include:
· John Hemming Trading Ltd
(UK) applications for pharmaceutical solutions.
· Great Zimbabwe University
and its collaborators – Development of mechanical engineering machines tailored
to local contexts.
· Brian Turyabagye and
colleagues (Uganda) – Creation of medical instruments that align with frugal
innovation and rural healthcare delivery.
Innovators from Kenya and
Zimbabwe were particularly active, indicating a rich environment for practical,
needs-based solutions among ARIPO Member States. This category emphasizes
ARIPO’s role in promoting accessible innovation pathways for individuals, research
institutions,
and small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs).
UTILITY MODELS
Zimbabwe Leads the Way
Utility models, often regarded as
"petty patents", are crucial for incremental innovation. Here,
Zimbabwe (ZW) topped the list, followed by Kenya (KE).
Although the numbers remain
modest, this area represents considerable growth potential, especially among
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and grassroots inventors.
Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania
shared the top spot in 2024. Designs are increasingly being recognised as
valuable IP assets for product aesthetics and user appeal. Kenya and Mauritius
also performed well, followed by Mozambique and Uganda, indicating the growing
interest in
creative industries across the
continent.
An Expanding IP Ecosystem Rooted in Diversity
The 2024 IP filings at ARIPO
indicate a maturing ecosystem that connects global innovation with regional
entrepreneurship. Here are the key takeaways:
· Pharmaceuticals and
biotechnology remain the leading sectors for patent filings, while
telecommunications and engineering are emerging as significant growth areas.
· Trademark activity shows
strong regional development of brands alongside continued foreign investment.
· Industrial design filings
highlight the importance of product appeal and user experience.
· Utility models emphasize
the significance of context-specific innovation, often originating from
universities and individuals.
As ARIPO continues to evolve its
service delivery and support systems, the 2024 data highlight its central role
in promoting inclusive, cross-border IP protection and innovation across
Africa.
Furthermore, ARIPO remains committed to assisting creators and innovators in Africa and globally in securing their rights and unlocking value through the power of IP.