OAPI-AGF €60 million partnership to commercialize 1,000 African patents by 2030

The African Organization for Intellectual Property (OAPI) and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) have launched a €60.9 million partnership to finance 1,000 innovative projects across 17 African countries by 2030. The agreement,signed this week,aims to transform patents into viable commercial ventures in countries including Burkina Faso,Cameroon,Côte d’Ivoire,Mali,Mauritania,and Senegal.

This initiative addresses a critical gap in Africa’s innovation ecosystem. The continent currently holds just 4.11% of patents registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),down from 4.20% in December 2024. Moreover,97.78% of these patents are concentrated in just five countries: Egypt,Kenya,Morocco,South Africa,and Tunisia.

The partnership combines financial and technical support through two key mechanisms: OAPI’s €7.62 million capital investment in AGF,and a guarantee window covering up to 75% of loan risks for innovative SMEs with patents. Additionally,the program offers business model auditing,intellectual property expertise,and mentoring from industry specialists.

“This partnership fills a structural void by offering concrete,sustainable,large-scale support,” said Denis Bohoussou,OAPI Director General,describing patents as “an underexploited gold mine revealing local solutions adapted to African challenges.”

Project selection will begin in the third quarter of 2025,targeting patent holders whose innovations align with Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative aims to connect innovators with industrial partners through AGF’s network of 250 financial institutions and OAPI’s technology fairs.

“Patents shouldn’t sleep in drawers. Our role is to turn them into growth levers,” emphasized Jules Ngankam,AGF Director General. The approach draws inspiration from Asian models where patent monetization has driven economic growth.