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Find technical knowledge
Explore patent and scientific databases to discover existing solutions, research and technical information.
Building Liberia’s innovation ecosystem
Technology & Innovation Support Centers
The TISC programme helps researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and institutions find and use patent and scientific information to make informed decisions, avoid duplicated research, and explore ways to protect and commercialize their ideas.
Liberia began implementing TISC in 2021, with support from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
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About the programme
What is TISC?
Technology and Innovation Support Centers give institutions access to technical patent databases and scientific information. Through these resources, researchers and innovators can search existing inventions and literature, analyze prior art, and better understand the landscape before developing a new product, process or research project.
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Make informed decisions
Use prior-art searches and technical information to guide research, development and innovation planning.
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Understand IP opportunities
Build awareness of patents, utility models, industrial designs and trademarks to help identify and manage intellectual assets.
Why it matters
Why TISC matters to Liberia
Access to technical information and stronger intellectual property skills can support better research, enterprise development and locally relevant innovation.
Close the information gap
Help Liberian researchers access technical information without costly subscriptions or specialist intermediaries.
Avoid duplicated effort
Search existing patents and literature before starting a project to make better use of scarce research time and funding.
Adapt proven technologies
Identify existing solutions that may be useful or adaptable in areas such as agriculture, health, energy and waste management, subject to applicable rights and conditions.
Build local IP skills
Develop the capacity of focal persons, faculty, researchers and students to support innovation in their institutions.
Turn ideas into assets
Improve understanding of how intellectual property can help protect ideas and support routes to commercialization.
Support national development
Contribute to stronger research and education, enterprise and job creation, protection of local knowledge, and evidence-informed policy.
How the network is built
Preparing institutions for a sustainable partnership
LIPO prepares institutions before an MOU is signed so that partners understand the programme, have a sound policy foundation and are ready to sustain TISC activities.
1. Raise awareness
LIPO introduces institutional leaders, researchers and lecturers to TISC, its benefits and expectations through presentations, awareness sessions and workshops on patent, trademark and industrial-design searching.
2. Develop an institutional IP policy
LIPO provides technical guidance and model frameworks to help institutions consider ownership of research outputs, invention disclosure, protection and commercialization in a policy suited to their context.
3. Formalize the partnership
Once the institution is prepared, LIPO and the institution sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out responsibilities, database and training access, institutional commitment and network coordination.
The TISC focal person
Under the MOU, each partner institution designates a focal person to serve as its main contact with LIPO and help coordinate TISC activities, technical searches and intellectual-property awareness within the institution.
Institutions are encouraged to maintain continuity in this role and prepare backup personnel so services can continue when staff change.
LIPO’s role
- Facilitate partner access to technical patent and scientific databases.
- Provide training and technical guidance when necessary.
- Facilitate drafting of institutional IP policies before the MOU.
- Provide national-level oversight so partnerships remain aligned with programme objectives.
National network
Our TISC partner institutions
The partner institutions identified in LIPO’s programme information span higher education, technology, health and agricultural research.
United Methodist University (UMU)
Supports faculty and students in searching patents and scientific literature before research and identifying opportunities for protectable innovations.
iCampus Liberia
Can help young innovators explore the novelty of software, digital and hardware ideas and learn about protection and commercialization.
Starz University
Supports a stronger research culture through access to technical databases and intellectual-property awareness across disciplines.
Ministry of Health — Division of Alternative and Complementary Medicines
Supports research into existing patents and prior art, protection of local knowledge, and responsible commercialization of health innovations.
Maretha School of Professional Studies (MSPS)
Introduces students to practical IP skills and technology-search tools relevant to innovation and entrepreneurship.
Scholars Research Center (SRC)
Supports patent and literature landscaping, more relevant research outputs and pathways to apply or protect findings.
Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI)
Helps agricultural researchers identify existing technologies, adapt proven solutions and explore protection opportunities for new varieties, tools and processes.
University of Liberia (UL)
Supports its research community with technical information and groundwork for a structured IP professional-development course.
African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU)
Support the university’s research community with access to technical patent information, support for innovation and prior-art searches, and foundational resources for developing a structured intellectual property system
TISC in action
Partnerships and programme moments
Explore selected photographs from TISC-related activities published on LIPO’s website.
AMEU TISC programmeProgramme activity at African Methodist Episcopal University
LIPO & AMEU MOU signingFormalizing cooperation for TISC
LIPO & University of LiberiaInstitutional agreement to establish a TISC
Additional activities and updates may be available on LIPO’s official Facebook page.
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Interested in becoming a TISC partner?
Institutions interested in joining the TISC network, or partners seeking training and database access, are invited to contact the Liberia Intellectual Property Office. LIPO’s programme priorities include stronger partner access to technical databases, institutional IP policies and a sustainable pipeline of trained focal persons.
Visit: UN Drive, Old Ministry of Labor Building, Monrovia, Liberia
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