Experts, scientists urge Kerala govt to include IPR in curriculum

Thiruvananthapuram: Since the last seven years, a proposal to set up an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Academy in Kerala remains only on paper. Now, the IPR experts and scientists have submitted a representation to the new Kerala government to include IPR in the educational curriculum from the school level and to set up an IPR Academy.
"A representation had been submitted to the new state government and in particular to Education Minister Prof C Ravindranath," CSIR- National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) senior scientist- Tech transfer and IP management Praveen Raj told TOI.The 21st century belongs to the age of intellectual wealth which comprises of innovations, IPRs play a key role in encouraging industrial development and economic growth, and hence there is a growing need for generating awareness regarding IPRs. A large section of our scientific personnel are yet to be fully aware of the necessity of harnessing a strong IPR system to their best advantage, he said.
As a first step in this direction, IPR should be made a compulsory paper in degree courses as per the proposed curriculum revision, he said. IPR is already an optional subject for Law students in Kerala. Also the people should be made aware of the need to protect traditional knowledge from private appropriation. Research institutions and Universities should be trained to secure legal rights on their creations, he said.
Responding to that, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE) executive vice-president and Science & Technology principal secretary Dr Suresh Das told TOI that including IPR in curriculum could help youngsters in becoming aware of the need for getting patents and IPR for innovations and its legalities. It would open up new job prospects for youngsters and the scientists too need to be trained on patents and IPR to protect their innovations better, he said.
CSIR- NIIST former director AD Damodaran told TOI that IP issues form a set of very rigorous Science & Technology data supported by Legal Claims to protect IP property rights in favour of the inventor for a period of 20 years. IP literacy is still very low even after two decades since we signed the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) at World Trade Organisation. "Introducing IP subject as part of the curricula in graduate or post graduate levels will certainly help to reduce the illiteracy. I strongly recommend it and I believe that in the State, S&T Department must handle this as a dedicated activity complimentary to the central agency. There is no need for a separate agency in the State," he said.
While, Praveen Raj said purpose of an IPR Academy will be to train all including school and college students, farmers, scientists, start-up innovators, small entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the basics and legalities of IPR to practically protect their innovations and intellectual property. Existing CUSAT's Inter-University Centre for Intellectual Property Studies (IUCIPS) is for higher studies and research in IPR that can churn out IPR experts and examiners, he said.
Former Law Minister and CPM state and central committee member M Vijayakumar told TOI that the proposal is expected to be taken forward by the new government. "The proposal to include it in educational curriculum and to set up an IPR Academy will be taken forward by the new government and a clear picture on its modalities will emerge soon," he said.