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The Role of the Tanzania Intellectual Property Advisory Services and Information Center (TIPASIC)

Presenter: Shemdoe, G.S. (PhD)Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)

EMail: gshemdoe@costech.or.tzMob. +255 715 897 877

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Background

• 80% of all technical information is available from patent documents.

• Utilization of patent information in developed countries has contributed greatly to advancement of technologies.

• WIPO realized the importance and started movement to establish centres in developing countries to promote use of patent information.

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Synopsis• The initiative for establishment of TIPASIC started in

2005.• WIPO, BRELA and COSTECH together organized a

Workshop on patent documentation for researchers on 25th-26th October 2005.

• Another Workshop on management of intellectual property advisory services and information centre was held at CoET on 18th – 22nd December 2006.

• On 27th March 2007 TIPASIC was officially launched.

Location

Mission of TIPASIC Mission of TIPASIC

Provision of patent information and advisory services on matters related to intellectual property for the advancement of technical capacity and economic development of Tanzania

Provision of patent information and advisory services on matters related to intellectual property for the advancement of technical capacity and economic development of Tanzania

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ObjectivesObjectivesTo promote and facilitate access to

patent information To promote and facilitate access to

patent information

To expand the base of IP creation in Tanzania (Enhance innovations to the

society)

To expand the base of IP creation in Tanzania (Enhance innovations to the

society)

To promote commercialization of local inventions/innovations To promote commercialization of local inventions/innovations

To strengthen institutional mechanisms to acquire and support IPRTo strengthen institutional mechanisms to acquire and support IPR

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TIPASIC CustomersTIPASIC Customers

Higher learning and R&D institutionsHigher learning and R&D institutions

Inventors & InnovatorsInventors & Innovators

ResearchersResearchers

Public in generalPublic in general

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Services provided by TIPASICServices provided by TIPASICProviding Patent Information Providing Patent Information

Technology Transfer: selection and agreements

Technology Transfer: selection and agreements

Providing advises on preparation of Patent Application Document Providing advises on preparation of Patent Application Document

Creating awareness and sensitization on IP issuesCreating awareness and sensitization on IP issues

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Details of Services

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S/N Services Detail1 Provision of

patent information

•Assisting clients to search patent information related to their research works, inventions or innovations from online database and CD-ROMs

•Printing copies for cited documents for clients

•Acquisition & maintenance of relevant patent information resources

2 Provision of advices and assistance in issues of IPR

•Availing patent application forms to clients

•Assisting clients in drafting patent documents

•Assisting clients in patent application procedures

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Details of Services

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S/N Services Detail

3 Conducting IPR sensitization seminars and publicity

•Conducting IPR sensitization seminars and workshops to target groups

•Encouraging establishment of institutional IP policies and technology transfer offices at R&D institutions

•Publication of promotional materials

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Walk in ClientsCategory Service requested Number

Innovators/ Inventors

General advice on IP and IPR 84

Preparation of Patent Applications 15

Patent searches 52

Advice on IP protection procedures 43

Awareness on IPR and TIPASIC 14

Students Students special projects on IP 85

Others Patent registration fees, evaluation of technologies

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Total

Status of Services Provided

IP Sensitization Seminars

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Output Collaborators/partners

Beneficieries

Client tailored seminar

COSTECH/TATC 4

Selected researchers

COSTECH/IDRC 340 (71

institutions)

Researchers COSTECH-MTEF 991

Others COSTECH/TCU/ITIGO/CAMARTEC/SIDO/DIT/MEDIA

155

IP awareness & sensitization seminars

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Output Collaborators/partners

Beneficieries

Training of staff

COSTECH/Recipient institutions

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Est. of IP units

NHBRA, TEMDO, IHI and TATC

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Establishment of IPMOs

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Title Collaborators/partners

Entries

Patent Attorney/ Agents (2010)

BRELA 9

Seed companies in TZ (2010)

MAFS 41

Patented technologies in TZ (2010)

BRELA 266

Establishment of Databases

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Title Collaborators/partners

Quantities

IPMO manual

COSTECH Electronic publication

WIPO publications

WIPO 300

TIPASIC brochures)

COSTECH 2000

Publications

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Access to Patent information

• TIPASIC staffs conduct patent search for clients visiting the centre.

• Researchers who attended the seminars can conduct patent search at their own places.

• TIPASIC uses free patent internet database (www.espacenet.com).

• Patent information can also be accessed from CD-ROMS

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Publicity of TIPASIC• Means like brochures, fryers, posters, newsletters and

media have been used to publicize TIPASIC.• TIPASIC staffs have been introducing the centre during

IPR sensitization seminars.• Brochures and fryers have been distributed to

scientific conferences, exhibitions and workshops.• 2 newsletters have been distributed electronically to a

few stakeholders.

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Future Plans

• Further IPR sensitization seminars to media people and policy makers.

• Continue with Establishment of TTO at R&D institutions.• See incorporation of IPR issues in research proposals

administered by COSTECH.• Strengthen TIPASIC publicity.• Continue offering the envisaged services

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Challenges• Low IP awareness of walk in users of TIPASIC.• Lack of awareness of existence of Patent

Information• Lack of working facilities at R&D institutions

(e.g. Internet connectivity).• Inadequate expertise in IP issues .• Understaffing at TIPASIC

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ConclusionsConclusions

Despite the few successes, TIPASIC is still underutilized. We urge the scientific community, innovators& inventors,

entrepreneurs, and the public at large to make use of this facility

Despite the few successes, TIPASIC is still underutilized. We urge the scientific community, innovators& inventors,

entrepreneurs, and the public at large to make use of this facility

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Thank you for your attention