Issouf Zan, is a WIPO Academy alumnus from Burkina Faso and an intellectual property (IP) expert who is dedicated to upskilling young African talents.
His career started out in 2013 at the Burkina Faso National Agency for the Valorization of Research Results and Innovation in West Africa, which introduced him to the topic of IP. Early on in his career, he was adamant to learn more about IP for his professional development and to feed his curiosity about the topic. He first enrolled in several WIPO Academy IP eLearning courses before deciding to pursue IP higher education with the WIPO Academy.
Issouf was accepted to the WIPO Joint Master’s Program in IP offered with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon on a full scholarship from the Government of Japan under the framework of the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global. He chose the program because of its practical approach tailored specifically to the African context, as well as the opportunities it offers for collaboration with the OAPI and its network of experts. Issouf graduated in 2016, and he maintains close ties with fellow alumni from his cohort.
My fellow classmates from the WIPO Joint Master’s Program in IP and I had the opportunity to reunite at the OAPI Colloquium, which brought us even closer together. We now work together and keep in touch regularly. I even relied on fellow alumni for an IP webinar I recently organized for my business incubator.
Issouf Zan, WIPO Academy Alumnus and Founder of Viva Innova
Launching an altruistic business incubator
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Issouf turned his vision into reality by founding Viva Innova, a business incubator designed to support youth, women and leaders of innovative projects. Through Viva Innova’s Innovartiste Program, he trains emerging start-ups and artists on the basics of IP, how to protect their IP rights, and practical ways they can financially benefit from the IP system. To lead by example, he trademarked Innovartiste with OAPI in 2023 to officially protect the concept and use the brand to promote cultural and creative industries.
Through Viva Innova, Issouf also works with local universities and research centers that are seeking to adopt IP policies. He assists them in developing and implementing policies and strategies for IP protection and valuation. Additionally, under the framework of Viva Innova, he regularly advises local African start-ups, businesses and industries on their IP rights.
Today, I can have a positive impact and help strengthen IP ecosystems and innovative entrepreneurship in my country. I find IP to be very interesting and I love sharing the knowledge and applying it through my endeavors so that others can benefit too. I want entrepreneurs to know that it is very important for them to budget for IP protection in their business plans, because it can help them gain a competitive advantage in the market. Many artists, entrepreneurs, innovators, start-uppers, PhD students, teachers and researchers are not proficient in all the current mechanisms for appropriating their IP rights, and I want to help these local talents capitalize on their unique abilities through effective support that is tailored to the African context.
Issouf Zan, WIPO Academy Alumnus and Founder of Viva Innova
So far, Issouf has reached more than 300 young entrepreneurs and artists in Burkina Faso through Viva Innova’s six in-person monthly training programs. His next challenge is bringing Viva Innova to other West African IP ecosystems as his greater goal is to enable Africa’s economic development by:
- strengthening partnerships,
- digitizing the training and mentoring sessions offered, and
- launching a “local IP champions” initiative to foster communities of innovators.
With growing competition and the spread of technology, the world is a changing place. Looking ahead, Africa will depend on its ability to innovate and make the most of its rich intellectual heritage for future generations. That’s why I set up Viva Innova, to give people with a stake in the IP ecosystem the tools they need to develop home-grown innovative solutions to address the continent’s big challenges.
Issouf Zan, WIPO Academy Alumnus and Founder of Viva Innova
Find out more
- What is intellectual property (IP)?
- WIPO Academy Joint Master’s Degree Programs in IP Law
- African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)
- University of Yaoundé II
- Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global
- Sign up for the WIPO Academy Highlights newsletter
- Join the WIPO Academy Community on LinkedIn