AICTE, CGPDTM sign MoU to spread ‘Intellectual Property Literacy’

New Delhi, Jan 18: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs Trade Marks (CGPDTM) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to systematically promote Intellectual Property Rights awareness in education institutes across the country.
The signing ceremony was chaired by AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam at the AICTE Headquarters in New Delhi.
The MoU between the two organisations marks the beginning of a transformative journey towards a more vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial landscape in the country.
AICTE Member Secretary Prof. Rajive Kumar and Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) Prof. Unnat P. Pandit exchanged the MoU, with an objective to create awareness regarding the need of IP filing, mechanism, and methodology involved in filing IP in India amongst students and faculty of higher education institutions.
AICTE Chairman highlighted, “The AICTE’s partnership with Indian Patent office will catalyse the momentum of patent filings in the academic institutions”. He further advised to organise various awareness programs and workshops for youths to aware them with the mechanism of patent filing.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Unnat said, “The KAPILA scheme (Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness) resulted in an exponential growth of patent filings. The filings increased from 6786 in FY 2018-19 to over 23586 in FY 2022-23. In last 5 years, over 78 thousand academic patents have been filed”.
AICTE Vice Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Abhay Jere said, “The collaboration with Indian Patent Office will provide benefit to students and faculty members of 8000+ AICTE approved Institutions. Also, AICTE’s Innovation centre can greatly support the IP literacy in the country”.
The MoU is signed with an objective to create a conducive environment in education institutes for nurturing innovative ideas and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs. Through this MoU, CGPDTM will join hands with AICTE to support the development of IPR educational material and resources, in framing guidelines or policies in respect of matters related to IPRs, to build respect for intellectual property through National Program on IP Awareness Mission (NIPAM) and to conduct sessions, workshops, and awareness programs on IP.
The Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks is a subordinate office of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and administers the laws related to patents, designs, trademarks, geographical indications, copyright and semiconductor integrated circuit layout design in India.