It was formed in response to the need for a science academy in line with the dawn of democracy in south africa: activist in its mission to use science and. The Parliament of South Africa passed the South African Academy of Sciences Act (No. 67 of 2001), which came into force on 15 May 2002. This report reflects the proceedings of the workshop on intellectual property protection for grassroots innovation held as part of Innovation for Inclusive Development .
This proceedings report is a product of the South African Academy of Sciences (ASSAf) in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) on Innovation for Inclusive Development (IID). seminars. The main aim of the workshop was to discuss national IP systems and policies that support grassroots innovation. Mr Stanley Maphosa, Manager: International and National Liaison, South African Academy of Sciences (ASSAf).
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) had renewed the collaboration with ASSAf for the Innovation for Inclusive Development (IID) Seminar Series for the second year. The Science, Technology and Innovation White Paper commits South Africa to an inclusive and responsive National System of Innovation (NSI) capable of supporting all forms of innovation.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GRASSROOTS INNOVATION
Scouting and documentation of grassroots innovators and innovations: Scouting for grassroots innovators is critical to the success of the HBN. So far, 43 Shodhyatras have been held across India, covering most parts of the country. The role of NIF in knowledge creation was recognized in the Task Force on Innovation – Report on Global Innovation Index: An Indian Perspective.
The framework for prior informed consent must be applied so that the wishes of the innovators and society are respected. Most of the licenses are granted to small entrepreneurs who have paid a license fee to the innovators in addition to agreeing to pay royalties. How to tailor incentives to a combination of resources and knowledge of right regimes: A sensible combination of the rights of innovators, society and scientists who add value to the innovation must be worked out.
Of the approximately 200,000 ideas in the database, 60% come from traditional knowledge and practices. In the case of herbal medicines, the innovators are initially reluctant to share information and it takes time to build trust and discover the extent of the innovator's novelty. In the case of plants, plant trials are tested at various locations over a period of three years, after which the NIF receives a report on the extent of the novelty.
The Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act is taking a long time to be passed due to the many expected problems.
PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR GRASSROOTS
TIA recently launched the GIP, in which TIA is the implementing organization on behalf of the DSI. The government therefore intends to move towards an IP policy that promotes a coordinated approach to IP, taking into account the South African Constitution and the rights of different sectors of the South African population. There are several measures to incentivize the creator of intellectual property. For example, in terms of the IPR law, the creator of intellectual property is entitled to at least 30% of the first million (gross) resulting from the commercialization of the piece of intellectual property, 20% thereafter. of net income.
NIPMO is currently being reviewed and the outcome of the review may inform amendments to the legislation. The South African government is moving to change legislation and policy and consider both sides of the IP spectrum. To have an impact, it is necessary to address all areas of the triple helix.
The IPR law could stifle innovation by grassroots innovators as they do not want their innovation to be owned by the government, but if they approach a university to help develop or protect IP, the IPR is owned by the university. In response to the comment that some innovators are reluctant to take their innovation to a university for funding because the IP will then be owned by the higher education institution, it should be noted that there are several options in terms of ownership in relation to IPR Handling. In such cases, the innovator can negotiate contractually with the institution regarding the ownership of the IP.
In terms of copyright law, if a person creates something in the course of their employment, ownership of the IP goes to the employer and the author will never be the owner. DSI should work with the Institute for Basic Education to make people aware of the mechanisms that communities can use. The rest of the world operates by IP protection, such as patents and trademarks.
Promoting grassroots innovation does not only include IPR, which is just one of the tools. The IPR Act removes some of the organizations' discretion to enter into different agreements with different parties. Mandatory disclosure is already part of the law and must be completed with every patent application.
We have talked about changes we would like to see in IP law, including the Indigenous Knowledge Bill and the Patents Act (for example the introduction of the two-tier system), but more detail is needed on how legislative changes will be implemented. Issues of implementation of IP law and policy are important, as is the way in which the public and implementers will be involved.
CASE STUDIES
Most stakeholders with an interest in grassroots innovation are represented at this symposium, and these are the people who can influence policy formulation. One of the key things for an innovator to commercialize the product is to mobilize resources and coordinate different stakeholders who will help in the different stages of development. It would not have been possible to succeed as a grassroots innovation alone and without the support of stakeholders.
Ms. Olivier started with an idea without knowledge or understanding of the innovation process, trying to develop soothing products to heal her own skin condition and share these with other people. Older women are mostly employed as distributors and sales representatives in local communities, and 32 women are part of the Indoni team. Two of the products were recently tested and were now to be sold in the retail market.
Innovators will be incubated by TIA's 22 technology stations across the country that will provide technical expertise as well as infrastructure for product development. How innovation at the regional level (SADC, African Union, New Partnership for Africa's Development) affects the inclusive growth of the region and the continent. Systems and processes need to be better harmonized and rationalized within and between different stakeholders, especially within the public sector.
Grassroots innovation can only flourish if young people are provided with the necessary support and by ensuring that the IP processes are less onerous to facilitate the commercialization of their innovations. Stakeholder forums should be established to ensure that grassroots innovation is promoted and protected. If you want to promote grassroots innovation, then consider grassroots innovators at the top of the pyramid, not the bottom.
The National Development Plan encourages South Africans to work together for development "using the energy of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, improving the capacity of the state and leadership and partnerships throughout society to promote". One of the take-home messages from the seminar is that supporting grassroots innovation is not simple, but complex and requires partnerships. This is seminar series is just one element of the Grassroots Innovation Program package.
LIST OF ATTENDEES
UNksz Zama Ndlovu Leza Private Equity Ms Siphumelele Nene Leza Private Equity UMnu Mashudu Netshiswinzhe the dti.
LIST OF ACRONYMS
