PDHCCI Hosted Conference on IP Commercialisation & Technology Transfer for MSMEs

PHDCCI organised a Conference on IP Commercialisation & Technology Transfer for MSMEs on 18th August 2023 at PHD House, New Delhi. Mr. Kirit Javali, Co-Chair of the Law & Justice Committee at PHDCCI highlighted the numerous schemes available for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in recent years. He pointed out the practical challenges and issues faced by this sector. In his delivery, he emphasized the significance of funding and copyright concerns. He stressed the importance of periodic audits and the necessity for acquisition and branding strategies.

Shri N Ramchander, Joint Controller of Patent & Designs at the Patent Office, New Delhi, delivered an extensive presentation on copyright aspects concerning novels, books, and brand names. He further mentioned the need for external confidential incorporation in patents, particularly for agricultural products. He highlighted the importance of aligning technology transfer with industry needs and emphasized that Research and Development is a continuous process and advocated for IP commercialization to foster innovation. To achieve this, he suggested a market strategy that emphasizes product importance and copyright issues.

Shri Dev Prakash Goel, Co-Chair of the MSME Committee, PHDCCI highlighted the significance of the IPR cell of PHDCCI, emphasizing that Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are crucial for MSMEs and Startups. Safeguarding intellectual property can significantly enhance their competitiveness, market position, investment attraction, and business value. He acknowledged the challenges faced by MSMEs and Startups in terms of identifying intellectual property and lacking expertise in filing applications. To address these issues, PHDCCI IPFC Center assist these enterprises by providing comprehensive information about IP rights and guiding them through the application process. The Ministry also offers reimbursement incentives to encourage more IP applications and protect creative work.

Shri N G Lakshminarayan, Chief of Business Development at the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), highlighted NRDC's role in commercializing technology and solutions for industries. He elaborated on their mission and vision and shared success stories related to CSR funding. He also addressed soil fertility and oil extraction, providing suggestions for soil rejuvenation through technological commercialization. He stressed the importance of a second green revolution, reducing dependence on Chinese imports, and enhancing soil quality to improve agricultural products.

Prof. (Dr.) Sushil Chandra, Dean and Professor at Rishihood University and Former Scientist 'G' at DRDO, highlighted patent issues in the defence ecosystem. He discussed how MSMEs can enhance their productivity through SRTT-funded projects and by improving skilled labour through education, artificial intelligence, and robotics. He underlined the significance of research and the need for a research paradigm in the MSME sector and emphasized its replication.

The conference was attended by more than 80 delegates from industry.