We are pleased to announce our new GOCIA project (Governing Climate Innovation – Africa) jointly funded by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Strategic Impact Partnerships Fund as well as the Policy Support Fund.
GOCIA addresses the pressing need for governance solutions for African climate adaptation innovation that ensure its appropriate protection, the inclusive sharing of its benefits and its ability to attract investment. Despite a contribution to 2-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the climate crisis and develops world-leading innovation in adapting to climate change. International climate policy and science – namely UNFCCC and IPCC – has recognized the key importance of internationally disseminating this body of knowledge but existing Intellectual Property Rights systems and trade regulations risk blocking access to and misappropriating African climate knowledge.
- Optimize the navigation of *existing* governance & regulation of African climate knowledge & innovation – First IP management “toolkit” tailored to facilitate African climate innovation – and also expected to inform Cambridge’s operational readiness for IP management & commercialization practices in the context of African innovation ecosystems (Cambridge has recently made a very substantial commitment to 500 African climate scholars and innovators).
- Improve *future* governance & regulation of African climate knowledge & innovation: Policy briefs for reform of governance and regulation of African climate knowledge and innovation. OpenAIR leads strategic work on African sustainability by drawing on its established collaborations with key African and international policy bodies – including AfCFTA, ARIPO, OAPI and WIPO.
Project contact: Dr Sara Serradas O'Holleran