CIPC Launches Inaugural IP Youth Awards
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has officially launched the CIPC IP Youth Awards, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at recognizing and celebrating the remarkable intellectual property (IP) talents of young South Africans aged 15 to 28.
The awards, which highlight the importance of intellectual property in fostering creativity and innovation, provide a platform for young creators, entrepreneurs, and inventors to showcase their ideas across six distinct categories.
Award Categories
The competition encourages entries in the following categories:
- Inventions Focused on New Technology to Support the Sustainable Development Goals – Recognizing innovations addressing global challenges and promoting sustainability.
- Inventions Focused on Copyright-Protected Creative Works – Celebrating excellence in arts, media, and digital content.
- Innovative Solutions for Managing Confiscated Counterfeit Goods – Honoring ideas that improve counterfeit management and fair market practices.
- SMME Excellence in Innovation Focused on the Effective Use of Intellectual Property Rights – Highlighting small businesses successfully leveraging IP.
- CIPC National Award for Schoolchildren (Aged 15–18) – Encouraging young minds to innovate within any of the above categories.
- CIPC National Award for Women in IP – Recognizing women’s contributions to intellectual property and innovation.
Application Criteria
To qualify, applicants must be between 15 and 28 years old and submit original innovations with measurable or potential societal, environmental, or economic benefits. Submissions must align with the goals of their selected category and be protected by intellectual property rights (such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, or designs), with proof of registration or pending registration required.
How to Apply
Young innovators can submit their entries by:
- Visiting www.cipcipyouthawards.co.za
- Completing the online application form and uploading supporting documents
- Submitting before the deadline on 3 March 2025
Winners will be celebrated at a prestigious gala dinner in Johannesburg on 27 March 2025.
A Platform for Future Innovators
Advocate Rory Voller, CIPC Commissioner, emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent, stating:
“As CIPC, we are thrilled to celebrate South Africa’s remarkable, talented, and innovative young people. The CIPC IP Youth Awards is a testament to the power of creativity and the important responsibility we have been entrusted with—protecting it. Today’s young people are our future leaders, shaping the trajectory of intellectual property and paving the way for a more innovative, creative, and inclusive society.”
About the CIPC IP Youth Awards
The CIPC, operating under the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC), is responsible for company and intellectual property registration, business compliance, and IP rights enforcement. The CIPC IP Youth Awards is an initiative dedicated to recognizing and supporting young innovators, ensuring that their creative works and groundbreaking ideas contribute to a thriving and sustainable economy.
CIPC IP Youth Awards – “Celebrating Innovation, Protecting Creativity.”