IPR Cell Jammu University in collaboration with School of Biotechnology Jammu University holds IPR generation and protection program

Jammu, August 29– Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell, University of Jammu organized an interactive Session “Ask the expert ” on “IPR Generation and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights” in collaboration with School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu. This program was a part of the initiatives taken by Honourable Vice chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Umesh Rai to foster a culture of innovation and creativity among the stakeholders. The program was specifically organised for the faculty from Sciences and Life Sciences which involved interaction with experts from diverse fields. Panelists for panel discussion comprised of distinguished experts from IIIM Jammu, IPR expert from InnoverseIP Jammu, Department of Law and Department of Chemistry.  

Dr. K. Prasad, Senior Scientist, IIIM Jammu and National Patent agent was the resource person for the first session of the event. He delivered a session on “Intellectual property, its application and commercialization”. Commencing his discourse, he shed light on the National IPR festival, an initiative that facilitated IPR awareness programs across India, successfully engaging approximately 5 lakh participants. Delving into the multifaceted realm of IPR, Dr. Prasad elucidated its essential characteristics, emphasizing its temporally and geographically constrained nature. He masterfully elucidated the nuanced distinctions between various aspects of IPR, encompassing trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, Geographical Indication (GI) tags, utility/model designs, plant breeders’ rights, and patents. With clarity, he underscored the significance of safeguarding inventions for researchers, attributing this necessity to the dynamic nature of IPR. Navigating deeper, Dr. Prasad expounded upon the diverse types of patent applications, unveiling the procedural intricacies associated with patent filing and the pertinent timeframes. He further unveiled the potential for a single patent application to be extended across multiple nations through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Addressing the regulatory framework, Dr. Prasad delved into the legislative mechanisms that govern patent laws within India, spotlighting the Indian Patent Act. His comprehensive session equipped the audience with a well-rounded understanding of intellectual property, its various dimensions, and the avenues for its application and commercialization.

Manik Gupta, Director and Patent Facilitator, Startup Program, InnoverseIP, Jammu was the expert for the second session of the event. He delivered an insightful session titled “Inventing the future – importance of IP”. His presentation began with a foundational overview of patents and the vital role of IP protection. During the session, he delved into various patent criteria, distinguishing between patentable and non-patentable innovations. Addressing the diverse landscape of intellectual properties, Mr. Gupta explored the array of patent types, elucidating what facets they safeguard and the durations of their protection. To exemplify the transformative impact of patents, he showcased groundbreaking inventions such as the sewing machine, telephone, and airplane. Through these instances, he underscored the imperative nature of patent filing as a means to preserve inventors’ rights and unlock revenue streams. Mr. Gupta also elaborated on strategies for product commercialization, illustrating how enterprises capitalize on their inventive concepts to generate substantial revenue. He highlighted the ongoing success of major industries attributed to their consistent innovation and refinement of ideas, products, and technologies. Furthermore, he illuminated the potential for licensing patents by larger corporations and how this could contribute to funding research endeavours by the original inventors. In his closing remarks, Mr. Gupta emphasized the multifold advantages of embracing patenting, elucidating how it can be mutually beneficial for researchers, their institutions, and the overall progress of the nation.

Special Invitee Prof. Manoj K. Dhar, Director AcSIR, Government of India enlightened the gathering highlighting the significance of IPR generation and protection. Prof. M. K. Dhar extended his sincere gratitude to the speakers, panelists, and colleagues who participated in the event.  He expressed his delight in witnessing the evolution of the IPR policy under the guidance of Prof Umesh Rai, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu. He emphasized that this development holds the potential to revolutionize IPR generation and encouraged faculty to engage in patent-worthy research. Highlighting the importance of fostering an environment that dispels misconceptions and self-doubt among faculty and researchers, he stressed the growing alignment of India’s patent culture with its academic publications in recent years. With India’s ambitious goal of achieving a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2030, he underscored the significant backing and emphasis from the Government of India on promoting patent generation and start-ups. Drawing parallels to historical centres of learning like Takshashila and Nalanda, he pointed out India’s rich tradition of scientific innovations, historically lacking in patent protection. Nevertheless, he concluded that the contemporary landscape necessitates a strong focus on Intellectual Property Rights to safeguard creations, contribute to the knowledge economy, and provide value to researchers. Amid the ongoing pandemic, he cautioned against the potential drawbacks of patent-related issues, citing the instance of free vaccine distribution. He advocated for a balanced approach between safeguarding innovation through patents and serving the greater societal good. In closing, he commended the IPR cell and the School of Biotechnology for spearheading this valuable session. He recommended the continuation of such programs in the future, aimed at eliminating barriers within researchers’ minds and fostering a thriving knowledge-based economy.

Prof. Seema Langer, Dean Life Sciences JU, also a member of IPR cell talked on the role of IPR cell, Jammu University in facilitating and promoting the researchers in generating and protecting their IPRs. She also introduced the guest speakers highlighting their contribution in the field of patent landscaping, IP portfolio management and patent filing.

Prof. Sanjana Kaul, Director, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu presented the formal welcome address. Her address illuminated the vital need to transcend the boundaries that compartmentalize diverse academic domains. Prof. Kaul’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration underscored her belief in the potency of amalgamating ideas from disparate fields to engender ingenious break throughs. Particularly, she recognized the paramount significance of IPR, elucidating how this legal framework shields intellectual creations, enabling their secure commercialization. She believes proper protection of intellectual property encourages the sharing of ideas and information, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.

Prof. B.K. Bajaj, the Convener of the IPR Cell at the University of Jammu, addressed the session with a comprehensive overview of the significance of the IPR Cell and its overarching vision. He commenced by defining IPR as a safeguard for intellectual property produced by human intellect. Prof. Bajaj underscored the pivotal role of scientific advancements and innovations in driving societal progress.Drawing attention to a critical concern, he highlighted the repercussions of not securing patents, which can lead to the original creators being denied due recognition. Notably, while India’s publicly funded universities are engaged in commendable research, there exists a dearth of substantial patent applications. Addressing this gap and fostering an environment conducive to innovation and intellectual property generation, University of Jammu established the IPR Cell established in 2020.The core objectives of the IPR Cell include nurturing a cadre of proficient individuals, facilitating, promoting, and providing assistance to the University’s research endeavours, and extending financial support to faculty members for patent generation. Prof. Bajaj concluded his remarks by stressing the imperative of aligning intellectual property rights with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. This alignment, he emphasized, would effectively bridge the gap between academia and industry, ultimately propelling the nation towards the commendable goal of technological self-reliance.

Subsequent to the presentations, an engaging “Ask the Expert” interactive session took place, featuring Prof. Kamal Kapoor, from the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Raj Sandhu from the Department of Law, University of Jammu as esteemed panelists. This segment saw enthusiastic involvement from the audience, who posed numerous inquiries. The panelists adeptly fielded these questions, ensuring that each query received a comprehensive and gratifying response. Dr. Yash Pal Khajuria, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology and member IPR cell moderated the session.Needless to mention, the session witnessed enthusiastic participation of about 100 participants. IPR cell intend to hold many such workshops and interactive sessions for other faculties of the university as well.

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