IP Management

The IP Management is actively engaged in the following activities:

• Helping the innovators in prior art searches
• Drafting and filing of patent applications
• Coordinating with various intellectual property institutions and attorneys for mobilizing pro bono or paid support for grassroots innovators in filing patents, trademarks and other means of IP protection on their behalf.
• Providing legal assistance to the innovators to deal with issues of infringement of their IP rights
• Screening of patents and patent applications based on Indian traditional knowledge and grassroots innovations, so as to oppose the improper applications/ granted patents particularly those dealing with practices entered in the National Register
• Coordinating with national and international organizations/offices to secure IP protection for grassroots innovators globally.
• Dissemination of information about the need for protection of intellectual property rights

Aims of publicly funded institutions such as universities, colleges, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings are multifaceted and are not purely driven by economic considerations but they are primarily driven by considerations of social obligations and political objectives and will of a nation. India has stuck to these aims since the independence. On one hand the above approach has helped us in creating a pool of highly educated population and also building an inherent strength in research and development and core competency in basic industries like steel, power, fertilizers etc. However on the other hand, an insulated system breeds complacency, which blunts the spirit of innovation and fire for being ahead of others. Globalization has taught us many new lessons by opening our eyes to the existing and forthcoming ground realities, which cannot be shunned away just because we do not happen to like them. These realities are going to stay. The likely impacts of globalization started becoming a part of our age old thought process and life style when India decided to become a member of the World Trade Organization. Since the beginning of 1990s new approaches started taking roots in respect of such institutions, especially related to their management and source of funding. It has been observed that educational and R&D institutions are being asked to generate their own funds and depend less and less on block grants by central or state governments. In respect of PSU the message has been to generate more and more revenue from the available resources. The Central Government was quick to understand the importance of innovations and new ideas for adjusting to new streams of paradigm shifts. The Government also realized that the journey is not going to be smooth, easy or straight forward in the absence of knowledge about new paradigms among scientists, technologists and policy makers. January 1, 1995 came and brought with it the full impact of WTO along with the Agreement of Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The Indian system rose to the new challenge and through its many efforts have taken successful steps towards transition to a new culture by updating its existing laws, enacting new legislations, instituting new mechanisms for enabling creation of new intellectual property and its protection and even evolving novel methods and schemes to promote innovations at grass roots levels. Managing creativity within the innovation process is not easy. From providing initial impetus for new ideas and a means of collating and evaluating.