The AP Technology Development and Promotion Centre (APTDC), in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is holding an awareness programme on Intellectual Property Rights at Gitam Institute of Foreign Trade (GIFT) at Visakhapatnam, on July 25. Called Intellectual Property Awareness Programme – Demystifying IPR, the programme will be addressed by eminent persons and faculty members.

According to a press release issued by the organizers, the programme was an initiative of APTDC, CII and GIFT to impart basic awareness on IPR, the practices, the systems adopted in the country and to determine a wide range of priorities and action plans, including the exchange of good practices, setting up university networks and entrepreneurship training.

The programme will focus on the role of IPR in enhancing competitiveness, demystifying IPR and fostering a climate of creativity and innovation.

The programme will be conducted, among others, by N R Subbaram, Consultant, IPR, Patent Attorney and former Controller of Patents, Government of India, Dr Gopakumar Nair, Secretary-General, CIPROM (Centre for Intellectual Property Management), Dr Paranjpe, former head, Patent Information System, Nagpur, and senior faculty members of Gitam Institute of Foreign Trade.

CEOs, managers, engineers at all levels and from all functional areas in large and medium industries, R&D organizations, academic institutions and researchers, scientists, attorneys, students and innovators would benefit from this first-ever programme being sponsored by APTDC in Andhra Pradesh.

Describing the objectives of the programme, the press statement said, “Economic development is becoming increasingly knowledge and technology based. The global technology system has advanced considerably in that the intellectual property component is largely responsible for advancing knowledge in the form of new ideas, new techniques, new processes and new products having economic and commercial potential. Innovation is generally very expensive but IPR protection ensures that the expense does not go in vain.”

Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion Centre has been set up under the joint participation of the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment council (TIFAC-an autonomous body under the aegis of the Department of Science and Technology, (Govt. India). APTDC provides technology support services and IPR facilitation services to the industries in AP.

Gita Institute of Foreign Trade (GIFT) is an offshoot of Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), an esteemed seat of higher learning located in the most happening city of Vizag. The Institute was established in 1997, in academic collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.