ZAMBIA RANKS 112TH GLOBALLY IN INNOVATION, 13TH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA — WIPO
By: Thomas Mwale
The Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) has revealed that only 26 of nearly 300 patent applications filed in Zambia between January and August 2026 came from Zambian inventors and companies, while just three came from local universities.
All three university applications originated from Mulungushi University, highlighting the challenge of translating academic research into protected inventions and commercially viable products.
Speaking during a national intellectual property workshop PACRA CEO and Registrar Benson Mpalo said that Zambia must bridge the gap between the laboratory and the marketplace by strengthening collaboration between universities, research institutions and the private sector.
he revealed that PACRA is deepening partnerships with researchers and supporting the establishment of technology transfer offices and Technology and Innovation Support Centres to help innovators turn research into prototypes, products and businesses.
Mr Mpalo said this in a Speech read on his behalf by PACRA Deputy Registrar Chewe Chilufya.
The figures come against the backdrop of Zambia’s performance in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
WIPO ranked Zambia 112th out of 139 economies globally and 13th among 32 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
WIPO Africa Division Counsellor Daniul Islam said the index highlighted both Zambia’s strengths and the continuing challenge of translating innovation inputs into tangible outputs.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry charged that the Government’s Grow Zambia agenda can be reinforced through effective protection and use of patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs.
Ministry Permanent Secretary Lilian Bwalya thanked WIPO and the Japanese Government for sponsoring the workshop, stressing that intellectual property protection must be accompanied by effective management, commercialisation and enforcement.
The remarks were delivered on her behalf by Director of Coordination and Delivery Simmy Chapula.