, under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India){kind=link}
MAY 03: To celebrate World Intellectual Property Day 2025, the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, organized a national workshop titled “Driving Innovation with IP Strategic Approaches to Commercialization.” The event took place at the historic Faculty Hall of IISc.
Supported by leading institutions including IIIT Bangalore, CMTI, C-DOT, Central Silk Board, BeST Cluster, IPTeL, and IISc, the workshop welcomed over 250 in-person participants and more than 500 virtual attendees. Delegates included innovators, startup founders, academicians, public sector representatives, and government officials, all gathering to discuss strategies for effective IP management and technology commercialization.
Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd.), CMD of NRDC, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized NRDC’s commitment to scaling academic innovations through programs like NETRA, Design Clinic, and blended financing models that support technologies advancing to Technology Readiness Levels 7 to 9. He also announced upcoming initiatives, such as the Technology Exchange Portal, IP Fairs, and a National Tech Translation Organization (NTTO), aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047.
Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director of IISc, stressed the need for structured IP frameworks in academic institutions and recognized ongoing efforts to overcome cultural hesitations around patenting.
Distinguished speakers included Ms. Manjushree N, IAS, Commissioner, DCTE GoK, Prof. Suryasarathi Bose, Dr. U T Vijay, Prof. Debabrata Das, Dr. S Manthira Moorthy, and Shri Prakash Vinod. All advocated for stronger academia-industry collaboration and the development of a robust IP ecosystem in India.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between NRDC and IIIT Bangalore to promote tech commercialization. A tripartite licensing agreement was also signed between NRDC, CSIR-CFTRI, and M/s Varre Corporate Solutions for Spirulina-based cereal and choco bar technology.
The event featured panel discussions with leaders from Biocon Academy, BeST Cluster, CSIR-CFTRI, IIIT Innovation Centre, and IPTeL. Key themes included effective licensing, research-to-market transitions, and the importance of institutional reform to drive IP-led growth.
The workshop concluded with a unified vision to scale innovation through strategic IP commercialization, fostering national progress and global competitiveness.