Johnson & Johnson Africa Innovation Challenge

As a firm committed to play our part in the realisation of the continent’s potential, we are proud to have partnered with Johnson & Johnson, a long-standing client of the firm, as a sponsor of the Africa Innovation Challenge.

The inaugural Challenge was launched in 2016 in recognition of the fact that less than 50% of African’s had access to modern healthcare services. The aim of the Challenge was to identify and support Africa-based entrepreneurs who were developing creative healthcare products and services. It focused on innovations related to three target areas, these being early child development and maternal health, empowering young girls and overall family well-being. Finalists were provided with funding and mentorship by Johnson & Johnson. Our sponsorship included pro bono IP and legal services to the winners to protect their intellectual property and assist in creating a sustainable business which could address Africa’s healthcare needs.

We were proud to work with Grace Nakibaala and her company InnovAsepsis, one of the winners of the inaugural Challenge with trade mark and utility model protection at ARIPO.

“This legal protection gives us great credibility,” says Grace. “One of the questions that are asking by potential partners, customers and even authorities in Uganda is patent. Now at least that protection expands to other countries.”

The PedalTap is an affordable, portable hands-free foot operated water tap dispensing system. Its technology involves modifying the existing water tap system to create a no touch cost effective solution for developing countries that reduces the growth and frequency of potent and infectious diseases spread like flu, cholera, Ebola on existing taps. Effective hand hygiene could contribute to a 60% reduction in hospital care associated infections spread in public facilities. The PedalTap invention provides a foot-operated valve assembly which addresses the various drawbacks, at least to some extent. The device is now being manufactured in Uganda, and has been installed in several public bathrooms, reducing the risk of infection and saving water.

“The hard work of legal teams such as Adams & Adams in support of the J&J Africa Innovation challenge is so valuable – in particular, obtaining both the PedalTap® trademark and utility model for Grace and her team at InnovAsepsis,” says Dr. Michael Moscherosch. Dr Michael Moscherosch, Director R&D, External Innovation & Alliances at Johnson & Johnson.

The second round of the Challenge – the Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0 was launched in 2018 and included an even more impressive set of entrants with 5 finalists selected after a lengthy selection process. The finalists demonstrated their ability to come up with solutions to Africa’s unique set of challenges and emanated from Nigeria, Uganda, Botswana and Uganda. Our Team at Adams & Adams assisted several winners with advice and obtaining protection for their trade marks in Botswana, Nigeria and Uganda. Click here to find out more about the winners: Meet the Healthcare Start-ups That Won the Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0 (jnj.com)