IPRs of agri scientists to be preserved

India and China have agreed to respect and preserve intellectual property rights (IPRs) of each other's agricultural scientists.

This is part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation in agricultural research, which also provides for exchange of agricultural scientists and germplasm, including the plant breeding material, between the two countries.

The MoU has been arrived at between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). It was formally singed by Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi and ICAR Director-General Mangala Rai.

Under this, both the ICAR and the CAAS would be equal owners of the jointly received IPRs resulting from the outcome of cooperation.

Transfer of achievements from the co-operative research would be on the basis of mutually agreed arrangement and with the permission of the other side.

Rai said biennial work plans would be developed jointly by the ICAR and the CAAS, outlining specific activities to be carried out under this cooperative programme.

The plans will also prescribe intended contributions of each party.

The pact will become effective immediately. Its validity will be extended automatically for the period of succeeding 5 years at a time.

Both countries will co-operate with a common objective of promoting and accelerating research and training in various fields of agriculture.

The ICAR and the CAAS will also establish inter-institutional links between their respective similar scientific agricultural research institutes and research centres.