Workshop on IPRs kicks off

To create awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), particularly patents, a two-day certificate training programme "� The ABC of Patents in India and Abroad "� began here today.

Inaugurating the programme, A Ashok, director of bio-technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said it was an impetus to the momentum of IPRs and that respect for IPRs was of benefit to the society as a whole.

Sharing his views, Pradeep V Desai, director (technology innovation management), Philips Innovation Campus, said that in an intellectual economy, ideas and technologies were the ingredients and IPR the merchandise, and that people expect smarter products with more convenience. It was the technology leaders that fuelled the innovation, he added.

Among other things, the training programme will provide an insight into critical issues relating to patents, hands-on training on patent search and sensitisation into claim drafting aspects and provide a platform to interact with the IP heads of leading corporates.

It will also elucidate procedural issues for filing patents in India/abroad along with providing a preview of the new patent regime and the international patenting scenario.

The programme is a joint effort of The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Centre (APTDC) and is meant for both people from the industry and the academia.