IP Labs is a WIPO IP-based capacity-building program for startups in Nigeria. The program models WIPO’s IP management clinics (IPMCs) to empower innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups to harness the power of intellectual property as a business development and financing strategy. It was designed and launched to address the identified need for capacity building within the tech, innovation, and entrepreneurial ecosystem, focusing on the relevance of intellectual property.
The pilot phase of the IP Labs project was conducted from August to December 2023. This phase effectively provided IP training and mentorship to fifty-six (56) startup founders within Nigeria’s tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystem. The phase II of the project has been scaled up to provide training and mentorship to 300 early-stage startups in Nigeria.
The project will be implemented in two stages for a duration of seven months:
Stage one, from October to December 2024, entails acceleration training modules while also introducing intellectual property to 300 early-stage SMEs.
Stage two, occurring from January to April 2025, focuses on the IPMC training and mentorship with specialized IP and Business Developments Experts.
Program Objectives
The overall objective of IP Labs 2.0 is to build capacity in the technology industry in Nigeria by enabling early-stage startups identify and utilize the IP system for business growth and commercialization. This program has the following specific objectives:
Train innovators and entrepreneurs on the importance of intellectual property in protecting their ideas and building a successful startup.
Create an enabling environment for startup-investor relationship establishment and provide mentorship to startups through the mentorship sessions in stage one of the project.
Create success stories of startups that have leveraged IP for business by highlighting the impact of the IPMCs for participants at the concluding public ‘Demo Day’ event.
Encourage IP registrations in Nigeria by providing IP registration through the IPMCs.
Pilot the use of the adaptation of the enterprising ideas which was commissioned with the last edition of the IP Labs.
Eligibility
IP Labs is a nationwide project open to early-stage startups from across Nigeria.
IP Labs Project welcomes all individuals or teams with technology-driven innovative ideas that addresses real world challenges in their communities and globally, ranging from finance, job creation, climate change, agriculture, health, education etc.
To qualify, these solutions must have some form of intellectual property component to them.
The main selection criteria include the following considerations or requirements:
The startup must be an early-stage startup with a solution to an identified local problem.
A startup idea must be the subject matter of an intellectual property possible of industrial application.
Green technologies are greatly encouraged.
Women-owned startups are strongly encouraged.
Founders of the startup must be available for the virtual 7-month curriculum.
Benefits
Participants benefit from various activities spread over a period, including:
One-on-one mentorship with renowned IP and business expert(s) selected by WIPO on how to better use IP for growth.
Training opportunities and access to practical tools and services.
