The WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally-based, high-quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.
The services that will be offered at the TISC include access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications, assistance in searching and retrieving technology information, training in a database search, on-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement), monitoring technology and competitors, basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy, as well as technology commercialization and marketing.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken during his first official trip to Sub-Saharan Africa, visited Innov8 Hub, Abuja, Nigeria; to encourage Innovation, Research and Development in Africa, which he strongly believes will promote a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the continent.
Deji, thank you. Thank you so much. I think that’s the best introduction I’ve ever gotten. (Laughter.) I’m glad it’s being recorded. I want to be able to replay it.
Listen, it’s particularly a pleasure for me to be here this afternoon. When I was last in Nigeria a few years ago, two things really struck me. One, of course, was the incredibly vibrant civil society that we see in this country, and I had an opportunity to talk to some of its leaders just a short while ago. But the other thing that really struck me the last time I was here was a remarkable spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, something that I had some experience in seeing when I was here, and I was really eager to come here and, in a sense, see where things are – both to see some of the incredible innovative work that’s been done, but also to try and understand what the environment is like for innovation and entrepreneurship and how that can be made even better going forward.
So, I really wanted to hear from people who are on the front lines of this work, not only having great ideas but, as Deji said, finding ways to make them real and to bring them to market. So, I want to spend a little bit of time both seeing some of these remarkable things that I think we’re about to see. but also hearing from colleagues about how they’ve gotten to the place they’re at – and how we and they can do even more to build this culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that’s already so powerful here in Nigeria.
Antony Blinken
Antony Blinken during his visit to Innov8 Hub
Speaking at the event, Deji Ige who introduced Secretary Blinken and Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, said Innov8 Hub is a focal point for Innovation Start-up, Incubation, Technology Transfer, Skill Impartation, Prototype development and Fabrication in Nigeria.
“This is a place where ideas are transformed into invention, invention into solution, solution into start-up”.
Deji Ige
L-R: Antony Blinken, Deji Ige, Mary Beth Leonard
In an interview with the press, the founder of Innov8 Hub Professor Gregory Ibe reiterated his commitment to innovation start-up and creation of an ecosystem of innovators and inventors in Nigeria.
Mary Beth Leonard, Antony Blinken and some innovators in Nigeria
At the event, some innovative start-ups such as Zipline, Outsource Global, Hotspot and i-FAIR Israel Nigeria innovations were showcased.
Innov8 Hub is a creative space where innovation meets excellence. A place where ideas are conceptualized and are transformed into innovation. A safe space for young and vibrant dreamers trying to navigate their way through the Nigerian innovation and invention ecosystem. We believe in building the future by providing scientific, technological and practical solutions to the challenges of our society.
The Hub has 9 core departments, coordinated by experienced experts. Our expertise ranges from innovation, invention, start-incubation, technology transfer, research and development, prototype development, fabrication, human capital development and mentorship.
Since inception, we have worked with different organizations and individuals to train, develop and coach aspiring inventors, researchers, academics and youngsters.
Events, Workshops and Career Fairs Organized by Innov8 Hub
I- Fair: The Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) was an innovative, inventive, research & development and entrepreneurship program initiated by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Nigeria through, the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the partnership with Innov8 Hub.
I- Fair was born out of the deficiency of sustainable development and from the need to breed a generation of world-class Innovators, Inventors and Researchers in Nigeria. i-FAIR created the platform for innovators, inventors and researchers across Nigeria to develop themselves and find solutions to the various challenges plaguing our society. i-FAIR had 5 target areas of focus which were, Agriculture & Food Security, Food Technology, Renewable Energy/ Environmental Management, Medical Devices/simulations and Social Responsibility/Solutions for persons with disabilities.
Upcycling Redefined 2021:
Innov8 Hub in collaboration with International Institute for Creative Development (IICD), The American Embassy in Nigeria and Transcorp Hilton hosted Upcycling Redefined 2021. Upcycling was a workshop focusing on recycling waste, garbage and various spare parts into new quality
Research for Impact Workshop: TETFund in partnership with Innov8 implemented an R&D Capacity Building program for Academics and Researchers. Researchers, scholars and innovators went through a 10-day intensive developmental program on R&D procedure, ideation and prototype development. At the end of the program, each team of participants came out with fully functional prototypes.
