DIPP, WIPO to set up innovation support centres

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have signed an agreement to establish Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC) that would help innovators in developing countries exploit their potential.

WIPO's Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC) programme provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.

Services offered by TISCs include access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications.

The support centres would also provide assistance in searching and retrieving technology information, training in database search, on-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement), monitoring technology and competitors.

Besides, it would also give basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy and technology commercialisation and marketing.

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal point for the TISC national network.

"As the national focal point, CIPAM shall identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC project," the Commerce Ministry said in a statement here on Monday.

"CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network," the statement said.

Over 500 TISCs operate worldwide and establishing TISC in India will give the host institutions access to the global network, it said.

"In upcoming years CIPAM is planning to establish TISCs in universities, State Science Councils, R&D institutions etc. TISC will give an impetus to knowledge sharing, sharing of best practices among the TISCs, capacity building, generation and commercialisation of IPs," it added.

--IANS

mm/rn