As part of the activities to celebrate the 2024 World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, the Technology Transfer Office of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has organised a capacity-building workshop for IP Representatives from the five colleges of the University as well as the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub (D-HUB).

The programme aimed at building the capacity of the IP representatives from the various colleges, schools/faculties on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer.

In his opening remarks, a Deputy Director at DRIC, Dr. Brandford Bervell, said the workshop aligned with the activities under the DLR 5.3 work plan of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR). He added that the session would allow participants to gain the knowledge and expertise needed to assist the Innovation and Technology Transfer Office at DRIC in executing the innovation agenda of UCC.

“Our gathering today is a testament to our commitment to understanding and safeguarding intellectual property in UCC. Together, we can foster an environment where innovation thrives and creativity flourishes,” he intimated.

Presenting on the topic: “Intellectual Property Policy of UCC-what researchers must know”, the founding Technology Transfer Officer, Mr. Isaac Nketsiah, highlighted that the purpose of UCC IP Policy is to educate members of the University community about their rights and responsibilities regarding intellectual property. He added that the IP policy describes how UCC faculty, non-teaching staff and students can protect their creations and exploit economic benefits from the creations as well as preserve the interests of the University and the general public.

He took the IP representatives through the legal issues concerning the status of researchers/inventors, IP ownership, identification, disclosure and commercialisation of IP, distribution of revenues and motivation for researchers/inventors/ innovators/creators, and issues of conflict of interest and confidentiality.

A Technology Transfer Officer, Mrs. Eunice Nartey, took participants through the essentials of making intellectual property work for researchers and the University. In her presentation, she highlighted the types of IP, IP case studies and the role of the UCC Technology Transfer Office. She remarked that the current UCC strategic plan 2023-2027 aims to encourage “responsible and impactful research in the form of prototypes of products and processes for socio-economic and environmental impact”. She emphasized the role of intellectual property in achieving this objective.

Dr. Brandford Bervell, a Deputy Director of DRIC, chaired the workshop.

Source: DRIC-UCC/Documentation and Information Section-UCC