Open African Innovation Research (Open AIR)

Open AIR is a unique collaborative network of researchers spread across over 20 African countries, Canada, and elsewhere answering two overarching questions: How can open collaborative innovation help businesses scale up and seize the new opportunities of a global knowledge economy? And which intellectual property (IP) and associated knowledge governance systems will best ensure that the social and economic benefits of innovation are shared inclusively across society as a whole?

A partnership involving five leading academic institutions:
- the University of Ottawa in Canada
- the University of Cape Town in South Africa
- the University of Johannesburg in South Africa
- Strathmore University in Kenya
- the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies
- The American University in Cairo, Egypt

Open AIR has recently been awarded prestigious, multi-million-dollar grants to supports its work over the next 3-7 years. Funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) will help ensure that the Open AIR network further strengthens its position as a sustainable, influential bridge of cooperation between the African continent, Canada and the rest of the world.