To mark World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2025, the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, partnered with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to host a national workshop titled "Driving Innovation with IP: Strategic Approaches to Commercialization". Held at the historic Faculty Hall, IISc, the event was jointly supported by institutions like IIIT Bangalore, CMTI, C-DOT, Central Silk Board, BeST Cluster, IPTel, and IISc.
Participation and Objectives
The workshop drew over 250 in-person and 500 virtual participants from academia, research, startups, industry, PSUs, and government, fostering discussions on IP management and commercialization strategies to bolster India’s innovation ecosystem.
Keynote and Announcements
Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd.), CMD, NRDC, delivered the keynote address, highlighting NRDC’s efforts in scaling academic innovations through initiatives like NETRA, Design Clinic, and blended financing to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 7–9. He announced upcoming projects, including a Technology Exchange Portal, IP Fairs, and a National Tech Translation Organization (NTTO), aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Insights from IISc Leadership
Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc, emphasized the importance of structured IP protection in academia and acknowledged ongoing efforts to overcome cultural barriers to patenting, fostering a stronger innovation culture.
Notable Attendees and Advocacy
Key dignitaries, including Ms. Manjushree N, IAS, Commissioner, DCTE GoK, Prof. Suryasarathi Bose (IISc), Dr. U T Vijay (KSCST), Prof. Debabrata Das (IIIT-B), Dr. S Manthira Moorthy (CSB), and Shri Prakash Vinod (CMTI), advocated for enhanced academia-industry collaboration and the development of robust IP ecosystems to drive innovation.
Agreements and Collaborations
The event witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between NRDC and IIIT Bangalore to facilitate technology commercialization. Additionally, a Tripartite Licensing Agreement was signed between NRDC, CSIR-CFTRI, and M/s Varre Corporate Solutions for CSIR-CFTRI’s Spirulina Cereal and Choco Bar technology, marking a step toward practical IP application.
Expert Insights
Dr. Dilip Krishnaswamy (C-DOT) and Dr. Vishal Rao (Innaumation Medical Devices) shared strategies for embedding IP into business models, while Dr. B. K. Sahu (NRDC) presented approaches to overcome commercialization barriers, offering actionable insights for stakeholders.
Panel Discussions
Two major panel discussions featured leaders from Biocon Academy, BeST, CSIR-CFTRI, IIIT Innovation Centre, and IPTeL. The panels focused on bridging the gap between research and market, effective licensing strategies, and the need for policy and institutional mindset shifts to foster innovation and commercialization.
Call to Action
The workshop concluded with a unified call to scale India’s innovation ecosystem through strategic IP commercialization, aiming to enhance national development and global competitiveness.
Stay tuned to GKboard.in for more updates on India’s innovation and IP landscape!