Winners of Intellectual Property quiz competition rewarded |11 June 2022

The winning teams in a souvenir photograph with guests (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

The winners of a quiz competition on Intellectual Property – students from the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Seychelles Institute of Technology – have received their prizes.

Organised by the US embassy in collaboration with the Seychelles Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade, the quiz coincided with the World Intellectual Property Day celebrated on April 26.

Following an elimination round, held on May 19, the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) Team 2 and the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) faced each other in the final, which was held on May 24.

The winners were rewarded in a ceremony organised recently at the National Museum of History.

The first prize of R2000 went to each member of the SIT team, which consisted of Denis Sedgwick, Justus Moncherry and Jeffrey Morin. The STA team 2 consisting of Delia Cesar, Anil Françoise and Thyra Camille got the second prize of R1500 each and the third prize of R1000 each was received by the STA team 1 made up of Melissa Adelaide, Valentina Hoareau and Vanessa Marie.

The presentation of prizes was carried out in the presence of the principal secretary for trade, Ronald Cafrine, the registrar general Wendy Pierre and a representative of the US embassy for Mauritius and Seychelles, Nicholas Christian.

The Intellectual Property quiz forms part of an Intellectual Property education project to commemorate World Intellectual Property Day under the global theme for this year ‘Intellectual Property and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future’.

Addressing everyone present, PS Cafrine thanked the US embassy for its continued support toward promoting awareness of IP and highlighted the importance of IP as an incentive for improving livelihoods, fostering creativity, and building economic resilience.

“The kind of innovative and creative thinking that goes into creating IP is something that should be instilled in Seychellois from an early age, and we are working hard to increase the youth’s involvement in this field,” PS Cafrine said.

He noted that discussions are already happening around a strategy and plan on how to bring about greater awareness on the subject.

“What is clear, however, is that the youth of this country must have a prominent role in this plan,” he said, thanking the students for demonstrating their enthusiasm to learn more about intellectual property and its benefits through their participation in the quiz competition.

Also during the ceremony, the US embassy’s economic officer, Catherine Volman, said the US embassy is honoured to have supported this event and will continue to educate the youth on the importance of intellectual property.

“The United States has always been a nation of innovators and we will defend the expansion and protection of IP rights both at home and abroad. A country where IP rights are well-guarded and enforced creates an environment for businesses to thrive.”

She further added that the message she wanted to convey was that “you can create the world you want to live in”.

Sylia Ah-Time/Press release from US embassy