The Inniss Institute for Digital Policy and Intellectual Property

IIDP-IP

Mission of the Institute

The Inniss Institute advances digital governance and intellectual property protection across the Caribbean and the wider Global South by delivering evidence‑based research, tailored advisory services, and implementable policy solutions. Our mission is to help governments, cultural institutions, and regional bodies protect their cultural and data assets, reduce digital risk, and unlock new economic value through licensing, benefit‑sharing, and responsible innovation. We combine rigorous analysis with hands‑on implementation—designing pilots, drafting frameworks, and building institutional capacity so developing regions can shape and benefit from their digital futures on their own terms

Vision Statement

The Inniss Institute envisions a digitally empowered Caribbean and Global South where governments and cultural institutions convert their data, creativity, and heritage into protected, well‑governed, and economically valuable assets. Our vision is a future in which developing regions lead with strong policy frameworks, implementable solutions, and the capacity to build fair, resilient digital economies.

WHAT WE DO

What We Do

Policy Research and Analysis — studies, briefs, and reports on digital sovereignty, AI governance, cultural rights, and intellectual property.
Advisory Services — tailored guidance for governments, archives, ministries, and regional bodies on digital governance, licensing, benefit‑sharing, and regulatory readiness.
Capacity Building — workshops, training programs, and executive briefings that equip institutions to manage digital and cultural assets effectively.
Pilot Design and Implementation — practical, scalable models for licensing, data governance, and cultural heritage protection that can be adopted across developing regions.
Public Engagement — thought leadership through media commentary, op‑eds, podcasts, and public scholarship that shapes regional and global discourse.

OUR APPROACH

Our Approach

Caribbean‑focused, globally relevant — grounded in regional realities but designed for broader Global South application.
Implementation‑driven — moving beyond analysis to pilots, frameworks, and institutional strengthening.
Economically focused — ensuring cultural and data governance strategies generate real, measurable value.
Culturally anchored — protecting heritage, identity, and community rights in the digital age.
Collaborative — working with governments, archives, universities, NGOs, and development partners.

Dr. Abiola Inniss HEAD OF POLICY PLANNING

Dr. Abiola Inniss is the Head Policy Planner of the Inniss Institute and one of the Caribbean’s leading authorities on digital governance, intellectual property, and cultural rights. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from DeMontfort University, among other advanced qualifications in law and policy. Her work sits at the intersection of legal scholarship, public policy, and digital‑era institutional development, positioning her as a trusted expert for governments and international organizations across the Global South.

She brings more than a decade of regional leadership, including ten years as the founder and Executive Director of the Caribbean and Americas Intellectual Property Organization (CAAIPO). Under her leadership, CAAIPO became one of the Caribbean’s earliest independent institutions dedicated to intellectual property education, rights administration, and policy development. Her work helped establish a modern Caribbean IP identity and laid the foundation for contemporary regional conversations on digital sovereignty, cultural data governance, and equitable digital economies.

Dr. Inniss is widely recognized for developing influential analytical frameworks—most notably data nullius and the digital plantation—which have shaped global discussions on how developing regions can protect cultural and data assets while generating sustainable economic value. Her frameworks are used by policymakers, academics, and cultural institutions seeking to understand and counter digital extractivism.

Her policy influence extends across the region. She authored the widely circulated policy brief for CARICOM, “Moving Beyond the Digital Plantation: Ensuring Caribbean Digital Sovereignty in the CARICOM AI Policy Roadmap,” which reframed the regional AI conversation around sovereignty, cultural rights, and economic justice. The brief has informed discussions within CARICOM, the CTU, and other regional bodies, strengthening the case for Caribbean‑first digital governance frameworks.

As Head Policy Planner of the Inniss Institute, she leads the Institute’s strategic direction, overseeing research, advisory services, and the design of implementable policy solutions for governments, cultural institutions, and regional bodies across the Caribbean and the wider Global South. Her portfolio includes licensing and benefit‑sharing models, digital governance pilots, regulatory readiness frameworks, and capacity‑building programs that strengthen institutional resilience in the AI era.

She has presented at international and regional policy forums, published in peer‑reviewed journals, and contributed to public discourse through op‑eds, podcasts, and policy briefs. Her work continues to influence policymakers, development agencies, and cultural leaders seeking to build fair, sovereign, and economically empowered digital societies.

Protecting Culture. Governing Data. Building Digital Economies.

CONTACT US

EMAIL : Innissinstitute@gmail.com