Call for Papers: Emerging Researchers and Postgraduates Symposium 2026, 7 to 11 September 2026
Africa’s IP and Innovation Future: Norm‑Setting, Regional Integration, and New Research Frontiers
Introduction:
The African Union has recently adopted the annexes to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Intellectual Property Protocol, signalling a key turning point in the continental aspirations for harmonised intellectual property (IP) norms across the continent. Regional IP organisations are simultaneously reviewing and modernising their legal frameworks to support innovation, industrialisation, and further the goal of improved intra-African trade. Various national IP laws are also evolving in response to both regional and global legal changes and pressured by the fast-paced digital changes and growing markets, the persistent challenges around traditional knowledge (TK) and biodiversity governance.
The momentum offers a unique opening for African scholars, policymakers, innovators, creators, and communities to shape an IP and innovation architecture that reflects the continent’s priorities, histories, cultures, and developmental aspirations. With this background in mind, the South African Research Chair: Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development (The Chair) will host the Second Edition of the IP Law Emerging Researchers and Postgraduates Symposium under the theme Africa’s IP and Innovation Future: Norm‑Setting, Regional Integration, and New Research Frontiers.
The Symposium aims to centre the voices of early career and postgraduate scholars in Africa, whose perspectives are vital in imagining an inclusive and context responsive African IP and innovation future. It will provide a platform for emerging scholars to explore and critically discuss the future of IP law, policy and practice in Africa. The Symposium will take place from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where participants will have the opportunity to develop their research. Papers that demonstrate academic rigour and make a meaningful contribution to the field will be considered for publication with a reputable academic publisher.
Submission procedure and instructions:
We invite African scholars to send their abstracts to sarchi-ip@uct.ac.za by Thursday 16 April 2026. Abstracts must clearly identify the theme under which they fall and should not exceed 350 words. The results will be announced by the last week of May. Authors whose abstracts have been accepted will be required to prepare and submit their draft papers by Friday 7 August 2026. Only participants who submit draft papers will be eligible to attend the Symposium. Participation will take place strictly on-site. The Chair will contribute to the costs (travel and accommodation) of 8 postgraduate students whose draft papers have been received. Those who would wish to be considered for sponsorship must indicate at the time of submitting their abstract.
Target Audience:
The Symposium is intended for African emerging researchers, early career scholars, postgraduates and academic scholars specialising in IP law in Africa. The Symposium aims to examine the evolving continental and regional IP governance frameworks, highlight research that connects IP to development, innovation, and equity, and critically engage with the role of IP in emerging technologies and climate‑change responses.
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