Date: Oct 26, 2024
The IPR Cell, NEHU, Shillong, in collaboration with the BioNEST Facility, NEHU, Meghalaya, hosted a one-day symposium titled "Bridging Academia and Entrepreneurship: Innovation, IPR, and Startups." The event drew 98 participants, including faculty, research scholars, students, and incubation facility representatives from NEHU.
The seminar was illuminated with the presence of DR. R. C. AGRAWAL, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR; PROF. PRABHA SHANKAR SHUKLA, Hon'ble Vice-chancellor, NEHU; and DR. NALANDA BALA MURUGAN, Founder & Managing Director, NAM IP Boardroom, CoNIPA.
The program begins with a welcome address from DR. A. K. SINGH, Coordinator, IPR Cell & Associate Professor, Department of Law, NEHU, Shillong. DR SINGH welcomed the gathering for turning up on a Saturday for a timely discussion on protecting the innovation of academia by IP and translating them into successful business.
DR. R. C. AGRAWAL, the Chief Guest of the program, provided insights into the basics and types of IP, the role of academia in India’s IP landscape, and the need for improvement in copyright and patent filings. Further, DR. AGRAWAL shared his experience as Registrar General of the Protection of Plant Varieties, and Farmers’ Rights Authority and updated the participants about major IP disputes like the Geographical Indicator (GI) conflicts over Basmati and Rosogolla and praised the recent initiatives from northeastern and other states in securing GI for their cultural heritages. DR. AGRAWAL also updated the audience about the present practices of IP licensing and encourage the patent holders for technology transfer.
PROF. PRABHA SHANKAR SHUKLA, Hon'ble Vice-chancellor, NEHU, expressed gratitude to DR. AGRAWAL for his IP advocacy efforts nationwide and urged NEHU scholars and faculty to focus on applied research, secure it with IP, and pursue commercialization opportunities through NEHU’s IPR Cell, BioNEST, and other incubators.
Carrying forward the discussion, DR. NALANDA BALA MURUGAN, provided the gathering a 360?? view of patent drafting and filing covering the essentials such as patentability, nature of protection, scope of provisional and complete patent, general drafting structure, the importance of Claims, and supporting documentation.
DR. S. K. NANDY, Chief Executive Officer, BioNEST Facility, NEHU, Meghalaya updated attendees about the facilitation available for business development in form of infrastructural, mentoring and funding support and invited the students, scholars and faculties to utilize the resources. Dr NANDY further highlighted the IP filing assistance offered by BioNEST, including cost reimbursements through government schemes.
The session was followed by an energised, thought-provoking Q&A session covering topics like scope of copyright, commercial rights of authors in research papers, scope of GI in ensuring commercial benefits to the community, GI conflicts, technology transfer scenario in academia and many more.
The program concluded with DR. S. MAJAW, Centre I/C, BioNEST Shillong Branch & Head, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, NEHU, Shillong summarizing key points from the discussion and reinforcing NEHU’s commitment to advancing IPR awareness. DR. RAJESH BAJPAI, Co-Coordinator, IPR Cell & Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, NEHU, Shillong concluded the event by expressing gratitude to the resource person for sharing their time and expertise and thanked the audience for their enthusiastic participation to make the program a success.
The program ended with a renewed commitment to promoting IPR initiatives and fostering innovation at NEHU.
2024, North-Eastern Hill University
Designed & developed at Bioinformatics Centre, NEHU
