EAI International Conference on Technology, R&D, Education and Economy for Africa

Research Article

Open Mathematics, Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property in the era of the fourth industrial revolution: Challenges and Opportunities in Niger.

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.21-3-2018.2275658,
        author={Ibrahim Sidi Zakari and Sidi Zakari and Sidi Iy\^{e}},
        title={Open Mathematics, Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property in the era of the fourth industrial revolution: Challenges and Opportunities in Niger.},
        proceedings={EAI International Conference on Technology, R\&D, Education and Economy for Africa},
        publisher={EAI},
        proceedings_a={TREE},
        year={2018},
        month={8},
        keywords={open mathematics perpetual gregorian calendar traditional knowledge protection frugal innovation intellectual property fourth industrial revolution sustainable development},
        doi={10.4108/eai.21-3-2018.2275658}
    }
    
  • Ibrahim Sidi Zakari
    Sidi Zakari
    Sidi Iyé
    Year: 2018
    Open Mathematics, Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property in the era of the fourth industrial revolution: Challenges and Opportunities in Niger.
    TREE
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.21-3-2018.2275658
Ibrahim Sidi Zakari1,*, Sidi Zakari2, Sidi Iyé3
  • 1: Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey (Niger)
  • 2: Niger Republic’s General Consulate at Djeddah
  • 3: Independent Inventor and innovator
*Contact email: sidizakariibrahim@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the relationships between Traditional Knowledge, Intellectual Property (IP) and Innovation ecosystems in Niger. Our analysis highlighted the need of improving the availability and quality of data and information for ensuring real evidence based decision making. Moreover, empirical facts showed that Political will, a legislative framework, vital institutions/infrastructures, lP culture awarness raising, communication, citizen participation, capacity building and public private partnesrhips (to name a few) are necessary for taking advantages of the current IP system in terms of protection, valorisation and continuous improvement of tradition based inventions and innovations. Finally, our case study showed how a scholar from rural area of Niger had used empirical observations (in the early 1950) to invent a mathematical tool for adressing the unavailability of perpetual calendars issue and how (from generation to generation) this invention benefited from IP and lead to: innovations, partnerships, knowledge sharing, cultural and spiritual identity promotion.