WIPO eTISC is a social platform which provides a secure space for the Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) community and intellectual property (IP) users to interact with each other and share knowledge and ideas.
To access the full features and services of eTISC, please sign in with a WIPO account or create an account.
By accessing/using the eTISC platform, the user is agreeing to be bound by these Terms of Use.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and its partners are pleased to announce the launch of the COVID-19 Innovation Challenge (for more details, visit https://www.uneca.org/en/aiif-covid-19 -ic-en / pages / d% C3% A9fi-innovation-covid-19-2020-technology-fair-for-entrepreneurs-and) and the Innovation Challenge in government, COVID-19 (https: // www.uneca.org/fr/disgec/pages/d%C3%A9fi-linnovation-au-sein-du-gouvernement-%C3%A9change-de-connaissances-pour-forum-sur).
Africa traditionally depends on the import of medical equipment, reagents and diagnostic tools, personal protective equipment and medicines. With a global rush for limited medical materials, countries are developing national technologies and innovation capacities, and harnessing and stimulating their entrepreneurial talent to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19.
These two challenges are part of efforts to strengthen the national response capacity and are therefore open to all researchers, companies, public and private development agencies, governments, innovators, young people and development partners.
The Innovation Challenge focuses on the following areas:
i. Quick and affordable test;
ii. Improve the design and production of medical devices and personal protective equipment;
iii. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of "contact tracing" (identification of people who have been in contact) and isolation;
iv. Build capacity to develop and produce drugs and vaccines.
The Government Innovation Challenge will focus on Government Innovation to ensure the delivery of key services safely (distance learning, service delivery etc.)
Credible innovations ready to enter the market will be presented at the first African Innovation and Investment Forum 2020 focused on COVID-19, from June 15 to 19, 2020 (https://www.uneca.org/ fr / aiif2020). The Forum will bring together innovators, investors, business leaders and government officials from across Africa and beyond, to explore investment needs, identify business opportunities and innovations to support.
The registration form is at: https://www.uneca.org/acpc-common/registration
Given the urgency of the current COVID-19 environment, all submissions will be evaluated upon receipt and may be available on the ECA website to encourage information sharing and partnerships.
Submission deadline: June 05, 2020, 5:00 p.m. EST.
In addition, a virtual innovation and design bootcamp for young innovators focusing on responses to COVID-19 will be organized, details to participate in the competition can be found here https://www.uneca.org/fr/yicdb2020fr/pages / bootcamp-innovation-and-design-competition-for-young-innovators-on-the-covid-19.
For further questions on submissions, contact Mr. Gedion Workneh by email: workneh@un.org.