Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 May 2025
The ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram, celebrated World Intellectual Property Day 2025 with a thought-provoking event aimed at promoting awareness and dialogue around intellectual property rights (IPR) and their vital role in driving innovation.
Held under the chairmanship of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, the event underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property to foster creativity and economic growth in India. In his address, Dr. Chakurkar emphasized that every individual holds intellectual potential that must be recognised, nurtured, and safeguarded. “Awareness of intellectual property rights must be a continuous process,” he said, urging the scientific community to remain vigilant and proactive in IPR protection.
Dr. T. Sujatha, Principal Scientist and In-Charge of the Institute Technology Management Unit, highlighted the institute’s growing IPR portfolio. “This is a proud moment for ICAR-CIARI. We now have 10 granted patents, nine registered animal and plant genetic germplasms, 11 commercialized technologies, six ICAR-certified technologies, and one registered trademark,” she stated.
The celebration featured two keynote lectures. Dr. Nitin Tewari, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, and a registered Indian Patent Agent, spoke on “Patenting of Biotech Inventions: History and Future.” The second lecture, titled “Artificial Intelligence Vs Innovation,” was delivered by a duo from UNITED & UNITED — Ms. Kriti Pathak, Advocate and Associate specializing in copyrights, trademarks, and industrial designs; and Dr. Shivangi Johari, Patent Agent and Senior Associate in patents.
The event attracted 72 participants, including scientists, project staff, and students from ICAR-CIARI, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), making it a significant knowledge-sharing platform for the island’s research and academic community.
World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually to celebrate the role of IP in fostering innovation. ICAR-CIARI’s celebration this year not only acknowledged the institute’s accomplishments but also reinforced the importance of continued efforts in safeguarding intellectual assets.