Workshop on ‘Patent Filing, Technology Transfer and Commercialization’
Aligarh : Cognoscente experts discussed the noteworthiness of patents for safeguarding inventions in the online workshop on ‘Patent Filing, Technology Transfer and Commercialization’ of the Intellectual Property Cell, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Deliberating the need to protect any product, design or process that meets certain specifications according to its originality; the chief-guest, AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor stressed to increase Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) from AMU.
“Universities and patents benefit each other. IPRs help universities to improve their ranking, establish an innovation ecosystem, incubate knowledge-based start-ups, and enhance research activity”, he added.
Vice Chancellor, Prof Mansoor recently approved the AMU IPR Policy to push for more patents from AMU.
Prof Parvez Mustajab (Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology) spoke about his work on IPR promotion since 2007 which paved the way for the sanctioning of a specialised Assistant Professor (IPR) post to the Z H College of Engineering and Technology at AMU by the University Grants Commission.
Speaking on the importance of intellectual property for an academic institution, Prof Wasim Ahmad (Dean, Faculty of Life Science) pointed out: “Number of patents applied for, granted and commercialised by universities and institutes is factored in the rankings framework. No surprise that the top ranked institutes and universities are also the leading filers of patents”.
Prof Rakesh Bhargava (Dean, Faculty of Medicine) emphasised, “Universities rely on the important aspect of innovation and patenting. Innovation and patenting support economic growth and projects which support the development of innovation and start-ups have big potential in reducing unemployment”.
Prof Mohammad Ashraf (Dean, Faculty of Science) delved into the history and importance of Intellectual Property Rights.
He said, “IPR enhances technological advancement as it’s a mechanism of handling piracy, unauthorized use and infringement. It gives protection to the trade secrets and undisclosed information which are important factors in the industries and the Research and Development institutions”.
Prof M S Jamil Asghar (Department of Electrical Engineering) shared real-life experiences of filing patent applications.
Samprati Basant (Senior Patent Attorney, Pan Asian IP Services, New Delhi) in a session hosted by Prof Rizwan Hasan Khan (Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit) explained the procedure of filing patents in India and the stages before the grant of the final patent.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar Majumdar (Manager IPR and Incubation, National Research Development Cooperation, New Delhi) spoke on technology transfer and promotion of transfer of technologies developed at academic and research institutions in a session hosted by Prof Mohammad Sajjad Athar (Department of Physics).
Dr Mayank Dwivedi, (Director, Directorate of Industry Interface and Technology Management, DRDO Head Quarters, New Delhi) explained technology commercialization, the need for the development of defense-related technologies and how academia could can play a crucial role for the conduct of fundamental research in defense technologies. Prof Saleem Anwar (Department of Mechanical Engineering) hosted the talk.
Prof Mohammad Azharuddin Malik (Department of Cardiology) took the feedback.
Dr Syed Javed Ahmad Rizvi (Convener of Intellectual Property Cell) extended the vote of thanks.
Mohammad Imran (Assistant Professor, IPR) conducted the question and answer session.
Over 500 participants from IIT Delhi, AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, Madras University, JMI New Delhi, HBTU Kanpur, CIPET Murthal, MIT Pune and Research and Developments organizations such as ISRO and DRDO among others registered for the programme.
The workshop also included participants from industries and professional organisations based in Canada, Taiwan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Kingdom.