Showcasing Innovative Climate Solutions for Africa: WIPO GREEN at COP22 in Marrakesh
November 17, 2016
WIPO GREEN selected 12 SMEs out of over 180 applications to participate in a clean tech exhibit at the COP 22 climate conference. The exhibit was organized from November 10-12, 2016 and exhibitors had the opportunity to present their solutions in person to a broad range of stakeholders, meet interested parties, develop collaborations and share experiences, as well as participate in a variety of COP events. The exhibit was organized in collaboration with WIPO GREEN partners OMPIC and INPI France.
WIPO Director-General Francis Gurry’s video message during COP22.
One of the key incentives for action [in the area of climate change] is intellectual property […] I think everyone is aware that innovation will play a major role in enabling humanity to overcome the challenge of climate change.
WIPO Director-General, Francis Gurry
Additionally, WIPO GREEN organized a roundtable focusing on green tech innovation in the water and agriculture sectors, focusing on the unique challenges in the African context. The roundtable featured representatives of the 12 selected SMEs as well as the following speakers from WIPO GREEN partner organizations:
- Jukka Ousukainen, Director, Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN)
- Yorimasa Suwa, Japan Intellectual Property Association
- Nicolas Lorne, Director, Waterpreneurs
Selected SMEs and their green tech solutions
- Egypt: Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), agricultural-residue-based fertilizer
- Ethiopia: Sitotaw and Yeshi Engineering Share Enterprise, Anicytor, animal powered tractor for agriculture and transportation
- Ghana: Recnowa Initiative, solbag solar backpack, a portable solar backpack designed for off-grid users that incorporates a detachable solar panel
- Kenya: GreenWize, MwangaBora solar lamps
- Malawi: Peacock Seeds, drought resistant maize
- Niger: Tech-innov, tele-irrigation system
- Nigeria: Green Energy Biofuels, ethanol cooking gel and cook stoves
- Nigeria: University of Nigeria, mimosa weed solar panel
- Rwanda: TEKUTANGIJE, sustainable clean cook stoves
- Saudi Arabia: White Energy Ltd., high efficiency vertical axis wind turbine
- South Africa: Eco-V, hybrid solar off-grid heating system
- Uganda: Tusk Engineers, bio latrine with biogas capture
Why is WIPO at COP22?
The Paris Agreement, developed at COP 21 in 2015, highlighted the critical role of innovation in addressing climate change, particularly with respect to fostering collaborative approaches and tech transfer. In line with the mandate of this landmark agreement, WIPO seeks to play a role in informing policymakers and developing collaborative platforms that accelerate, encourage and enable innovation and tech transfer.
WIPO supports innovators from around the world through a variety of services and resource platforms. Under its development mandate, WIPO focuses on harnessing these activities to address issues such as global health and climate change. This includes WIPO GREEN, whose goal is to facilitate the transfer of green technologies, particularly in developing countries and LDCs.