New ‘IP Discover Guide for EU SMEs entering the African Market’ published: a must-read for SMEs planning to export or invest in Africa

We are pleased to announce the publication of the ‘IP Discover Guide for EU SMEs entering the African market‘, developed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in collaboration with the Africa IP SME Helpdesk. It is available today on the revamped Intellectual Property Support for Small Businesses website.

As African economies continue to grow, the continent offers significant opportunities for European SMEs. However, the intellectual property (IP) landscape across Africa is highly varied, with different national laws, practices and enforcement regimes. This new guide aims to help SMEs navigate this complexity by providing a clear, practical, and business-focused overview of how to protect and manage their IP when entering or operating in African markets.

The guide is intended for any EU business looking to safeguard its patents, trade marks, industrial designs, trade secrets or other IP assets before expanding into Africa. It provides concrete advice to help SMEs assess risks and develop an IP strategy, enabling them to seize the opportunities this continent offers while minimising the risks.

One of the guide’s key features is its interactive format. Users are invited to follow a short, step-by-step journey in which they select different business-focused scenarios. Based on these choices, the tool automatically generates a personalised IP assessment, offering recommendations tailored to the SME’s market intentions and level of IP preparedness. This enables companies to quickly identify their priorities and take concrete steps to safeguard their IP assets. Feel free to browse the rest of the Discover Guides series available here.

This publication complements the ongoing services offered by the Helpdesk, including a confidential helpline, training materials, country-specific IP information, online resources and more. This new guide, available in 23 EU languages, sees the Helpdesk renew its commitment to supporting EU SMEs in their efforts to expand sustainably in Africa and protect their innovations globally.

Interested SMEs can also access the EU SMEs entering the African market guide, and other IP-related resources for Africa free of charge via the Africa IP SME Helpdesk website. Any questions or enquiries can be submitted directly through the Helpdesk’s helpline, where IP experts provide bespoke advice.