Bridging Gaps: How WIPO's New Initiative Supports Migrant Entrepreneurs

In Bilbao’s San Francisco neighborhood, Esther Ogunleye, a 23-year-old journalist from Bilbao with Nigerian heritage, is part of Koop SF 34, a center that supports migrant entrepreneurs with their endeavors. Since joining in 2021, Esther has produced media content for Kamanga – a sub-hub for young content creators at the center – hosts a music show called "SAUGGA BOX," and also guides cultural tours through the neighborhood.

Through her walking tours, she shares insights into the neighborhood’s ongoing transformation and its rich layers of migration history. Esther explains, " There are over 90 nationalities living in our neighborhood. I am dedicated to showing another side of the neighborhood and talking about migration over the years. I also am committed to making content related to the field of music, news, trends and events where I interview local, national and international artists with a touch of comedy.’’

Migrant entrepreneurs face numerous challenges when integrating into new economies, from language barriers and cultural differences to the recognition of foreign qualifications. Entrepreneurship offers migrants not just an avenue for economic integration but also a pathway to empowerment, self-realization, income generation, and improved social status. But while the number of migrant entrepreneurs has nearly doubled over the past decade, the support available in the IP field has not kept pace.

A new initiative from WIPO aims to grow IP awareness and skills among migrant entrepreneurs through training workshops and is part of a broader effort to engage with innovators from underrepresented groups. Implemented in collaboration with Koop SF 34 and Galbaian IP, the initiative aims to support entrepreneurs in safeguarding their creative outputs using IP and leveraging them for business growth.

Koop SF 34 caters to a broad range of industries, including textiles, tourism, dance, and audiovisual production. The organization’s Kamanga collective, which Esther is a part of, is particularly popular.

Kamanga Influencers has established a studio designed to hone content creation skills for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Here, young migrants, some as young as 15, collaborate to share their stories and those of their peers, capturing the vibrant street life of Bilbao. This initiative not only fosters digital literacy and media production skills but also provides a powerful outlet for self-expression and community engagement.

"Kamanga gives me a space where I can perform a multitude of sets and also allows me to learn since all the materials are at my fingertips. The great visibility and importance they give to our projects have opened up numerous opportunities for me," says Esther.

One of the central objectives of the collaboration between WIPO and Koop SF 34 is to promote diversity within the innovation ecosystem. By leveraging the unique IP experiences of migrant entrepreneurs, this initiative sets an exemplary model for inclusivity and creativity. The project aims to foster a culture of creativity, sharing, and problem-solving, further reinforcing the mission to make IP accessible to everyone, everywhere. Enhancing local economies, the initiative underscores the recognition of migrant entrepreneurs as valuable contributors to their communities and the broader global market.

Join us for an introductory coaching session at Koop SF 34, scheduled for May 10, which will be accessible via streaming:  https://www.twitch.tv/kamanga_ic

Background

The Coordination of Developed Countries (CDC) Team of the Division for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC), in collaboration with Galbaian Intellectual Property, from the Mondragón Corporation, has initiated the project entitled 'IP for Migrant Entrepreneurs'. The project was launched in March 2024 and aims to support migrant entrepreneurs from Koop SF34, a pioneer social enterprise incubator located in Bilbao, Spain, equipping them with valuable skills and knowledge in intellectual property (IP) protection and management to safeguard their creative outputs using IP and leveraging them for business growth.