The Centre for IPR Studies, established in the School of Legal Studies of the Cochin University of Science & Technology in 2003, is converted into IUCIPRS to encourage multidisciplinary teaching and research in the area of intellectual property rights. Centre for IPR Studies was originally established with Dr. K.N. Chandrasekharan Pillai, Dean, Faculty of Law as the Hon. Director and Dr. N.S. Gopalakrishnan as the Coordinator.

The Centre is also supported by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, which has established HRD Chair on Intellectual Property Rights in CUSAT in 2003. The Government of India also extended financial support to develop a depository of IPR materials. The Centre, thus at present, receives financial assistance from both the Centre and the State Governments. At present the Centre has one of the best collections on IPR from different parts of the world.

Inter University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS) is an autonomous institution established by the Government of Kerala in Cochin University of Science and Technology. This is one of the Inter University Centres conceived and implemented by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala. But the IUCIPRS is unique among other Inter University Centres as it is administered by a Governing Council with the Minister for Education, Government of Kerala as the Chairman, the Vice Chancellor of CUSAT as Vice Chairman, and renowned academics from all over India, including Vice Chancellors of several Universities in Kerala as members.