Over the past few years, the creative economy has thrived, mainly supported by technological innovations and the youth have a constant desire to be top of the digital trends.
Young people are stepping up to innovation challenges, using their energy and ingenuity, curiosity, and creativity to steer a course towards a better future.
There are numerous challenges; however, they still face the creative industry and have discouraged the youth from showing their talents and putting them to good use.
This especially applies to issues such as policies and legislation that do not consider the needs and concerns of young inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs.
Every April 26, the world celebrates Intellectual Property Day to learn about the role that intellectual property plays in encouraging innovation and creativity
This year, the World Intellectual Property Day theme dubbed “IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future” focuses on IP and Youth innovating for a Better Future. It further explores how these innovative, energetic, and creative minds are driving positive change across the globe.
The youth of today are an incredible and largely untapped source of creativity. Their fresh perspectives, energy, and curiosity, not to mention their hunger for a better future, are already reshaping approaches and driving action for innovation and change.
On World Intellectual Property Day 2022, the young people have an opportunity to find out how IP rights can support their goals, help transform their ideas into reality, generate income, create jobs, and make a positive impact on the world around them.
IP rights are a form of property granted through trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyrights, and geographical indications, among others, that enable the owner to exercise a monopoly on their assets.
With IP rights, young people have access to some of the key tools they need to advance their ambitions. For instance, they can use intellectual property rights as collateral for credit to start and grow their businesses.
The advantage that today’s youth have is that they are not afraid to speak out and challenge the status quo. Growing up in a connected world with mobile phones and the Internet, they have become digital natives.
And this has to a large extent, shaped a generation arguably the most entrepreneurial, innovative, and creative.
Therefore, policymakers should strive to develop policies and programs that nurture and support the young minds’ endeavors to innovate them for a better future.
Also, innovations that give access and information to the youth and help them make informed decisions are the ones that trigger participation. If this innovation can be brought down to that level, you have engaged the citizens who can influence policy.
An entrepreneur needs critical thinking, persistence, adaptability, creativity, and initiative. A skill set that is often forgotten in many education systems such as Kenya because there is no emphasis on creative thinking.
Although some universities have already started applying new curricula and methods to learning to cover the aspect of bringing out creativity, most public institutions still pursue a highly structured approach to learning, which is not so good for the creative sector.
Cooperating this at the school level is a sure way of bumping and nurturing creativity at early stages.
Electronic platforms, file sharing, and music streaming, among others, have led to new business models – and to protect their innovations, people have acquired Intellectual Property (IP rights) to these innovations.
But the young innovators are still not benefiting because sectors such as banks, for instance, are hesitant to use IP rights as collateral to give out credit.
Despite the potential advantage of integrating intellectual property rights within the financial system, this cannot be emphasized enough. It can be leveraged to create opportunities for youth to further their businesses.
All these issues should be resolved to ensure the youth have an enabling environment to grow their talents and innovations for a better future.
All in all, wherever your ambitions lie: Whether it’s the arts, science, or technology – a creative and innovative mindset backed up with IP rights will help you make a difference. So, get involved in this year’s campaign and find out what IP can do for you.