29 AUGUST 2025
Exploring the Intersections of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Research Management: Options, Challenges, and Prospects for Universities in Africa.
Keynote Speaker: Prof. Saudin J. Mwakaje, University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The discourse will examine the increasing and pervasive role of intellectual property rights (IPR) in shaping societal development, with a specific focus on education and research. Informed by recent global and continental regulatory dynamics propelled by, among others, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the AU Agenda 2063, and the adoption of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Protocol in 2023, all of which point to the increased importance of research and innovation in addressing societal challenges. In the mix of these transboundary policy and regulatory drives, Universities have a pertinent and assertive role to play in driving innovation to address various societal problems. Thus, the address seeks to, inter alia, disambiguate the unclear parameter on how universities, in the African context, can strategically utilize IPR as part of research management to derive optimal benefits from various research outputs. In the discussion, the essential lines of enquiry will include: What are the contours explaining the inseparable correlation between research management and IPR? How can the university effectively employ IPR in research management? What are the potential setbacks and prospects for universities in Africa? As African universities evolve into engines of innovation, the intersection between IPR and research management has become increasingly crucial for addressing societal challenges and ensuring institutional sustainability. Ultimately, the address will examine how IPR frameworks influence the creation, protection, and commercialization of knowledge-based assets generated in universities, while exploring models for incentivizing academic entrepreneurship and highlighting structural, legal, and cultural challenges that impede effective IPR integration in research management in African universities. Finally, it will seek to propose actionable strategies and further areas of inquiry, as well as institutional-specific realignments, cautioned by the fact that “one size may not fit all.” Consequently, the national and regional policy and legal framework may become a significant consideration in choosing the appropriate model for universities.
Prof. Saudin J. Mwakaje
Prof. Mwakaje is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law, Tanzania. He is a researcher, trainer, consultant, and legal practitioner (admitted to practice law in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar).