Activities
The Centre, along with regular academic programs, has been undertaking various research projects and publishing books and research papers since its inception, in 2003.
The main activities of the Centre include policy research support to both Central and State Governments, supporting/assisting Government of India in international negotiations, conducting extensive research in intellectual property related areas, conducting different types of academic programmes including full time Ph.D programmes with fellowships, facilitating multi-disciplinary research, undertaking post graduate courses for students of Science, Technology and Management disciplines of CUSAT, short-time fellowships for students from other universities who have registered for Ph.D on any IP related areas, full time fellowships for Ph.D scholars from different disciplines registed in other Universities in Kerala in the area of IPR, release of Minor Research Projects for teachers of the Universities in Kerala, grant of two month Justice Rajagoapala Ayyengar Summer fellowship for IPR teachers from India, visiting fellowships for eminent academics from India and abroad giving them an opportunity to associate with IUCIPRS by engaging in teaching and research. In addition to this, we also organize various seminars, conferences and workshops on emerging issues on Intellectual Property Law and conduct training programmes for judges, professionals, scientists, students of other Universities in India etc. The Centre also facilitate filing of patent application for inventions of teachers and researchers of all the Universities in Kerala and extends support to scientists, industrialists and other technical experts from outside in obtaining different forms of IP protection. The Centre has been undertaking various research projects and publishing books and research papers from 2003 onwards.
Research Project undertaken by faculties of IUCIPRS
- 3 Projects Completed
- 4 Ongoing Projects
- 5 Projects Submitted
Policy Research
The main activities of the Centre include policy research support to both Central and State Governments, supporting/assisting Government of India in international negotiations and policy making conducting extensive research in intellectual property related areas. The Central Government Ministries to which research support was offered include Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Family and Woman’s Development, Ministry of Culture etc., and the Kerala State Government Departments such as Higher Education and Law.
The faculty members of the Centre also include an expert member of the Indian Delegation to negotiate various international treaties at the World Intellectual Property Organization, Geneva.
Research Work Group
As a part of social collaboration of IUCIPRS and to compact with the interest of the state in Geographical Indications, we are planning to do a social experiment with passionately producing in Geographical Indications of Kerala. As per the discussion of May 9th, 2018 faculty meeting of IUCIPRS, we conducted a seminar on “Pokkali Rice and its Market expansion” at Kadamakkudi Hall, Varappuzha, Ernakulam on 12th June 2018. The themes of the seminar was Pokkali Rice and its various uses and prospects, how the high quality seeds can be procured and distributed among farmers in order to maintain quality, International marketing and e-marketing possibilities in Pokkali rice and rice products. The farmers were actively participated in all sessions and while sitting discussion of the seminar, they requested for an exclusive website to market their Pokkali rice and rice products. The experts of the seminar recommended that E-marketing can give new opportunities to Pokkali rice farmers and we created the same with some advanced options to market Pokkali rice.
IPR Facilitation
The Centre is offering free patent filing service to all the teachers and researches from all Universities in kerala and limited free service to the needy to acquire various intellectual property rights. The staff and research scholars of Cochin University seek advice from the Centre on IPR matters, particularly on patent. A number of persons from outside University often consult the Centre seeking advice on IPR related issues. Majority are local inventors seeking clarification on how to obtain patent. The Centre has taken steps to facilitate filing of patent application in India from the teachers and researchers of all Universities in Kerala by engaging a Patent consultant.
Six Patent applications have been Facilitated by IPR Cell in the name of CUSAT during 2021-22. The Centre also provides IP consultancy services on novelty assessment of Inventions and assistance in filing of provisional patent application to the general public and others on payment of nominal fees.
The Centre launched IPR e-Updates on January 2020, electronic version publication, published monthly and circulated via email to various colleges within Kerala. The focus of which is to bring to fore the latest developments happening in the field of IPR. The IPR e-Updates includes interesting patent literature published in India in the previous month, a snippet on IPR, along with the key forthcoming events in the field of IPR. The idea was conceived and developed by Dr. I. G. Rathish, Assistant Professor, IUCIPRS, CUSAT.
DPIIT Chair on IPR
Research Work Undertaken by DPIIT Chair
1. Comments on the “National Education Policy 2020 - Expectations of IPR Chair; Universities selected under Scheme for Pedagogy & Research in IPRs Holistic Education & Academia (SPRIHA) on Implementation of National Education Policy 2020”, sought for by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India in April 2021- Dr. M Bhasi (Coordinator, DPIIT Chair on IPR), Naveen Gopal (Research Assistant, DPIIT Chair on IPR) and Sulok S K (Research Assistant, DPIIT Chair on IPR).
2. “Concept of Ownership under the GI Act: An Empirical Study with special reference to Agriculture and Handicraft sectors of Kerala” (ongoing)- Sulok S K (Research Assistant, DPIIT Chair on IPR).
3. Project on “MSME and Trade Secrets- with special reference to the food processing industry in Kerala” (ongoing) - Naveen Gopal (Research Assistant, DPIIT Chair on IPR).
Academic Activities
Multidisciplinary Ph.D Programme
IUCIPRS is a place where multidisciplinary research in the area of IPR is encouraged with students from different disciplines such as Law, Political Science, Management, Anthropology, Physics, Electronics, Fisheries, Anthrapology, Zoology etc.
(Ph.D students enrolled: 30; Ph.D awarded: 5; Pre-synopsis submission - 1)
PG Courses
The Centre started the first batch of the five year integrated dual degree programme, LLM (IP) Ph.D and LL.M (IPR) Ph.D in July 2013 with intake of 10 students (5 with Graduate degree in Law and 5 with Graduate degree in non- law).
One Year LLM (IPR) Programme in the academic year was started in the academic year 2016-17 and admitting 15 students with Graduate degree in Law. The centre also offer Elective Courses for students of CUSAT (other than law students) in the areas of: Patenting Inventions: Practice and Access to Tools; Overview of Patent drafting; IP and Management. As of date, awarded 40 Master’s Degree in LLM (2016-21).
Academic Collaborations
- Management University, Singapore (Asian Cooperation on IP)
- Max Planck Institute for Competition Law and IPR, Munich, Germany - Patent
- Declaration and follow up research
- Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Kerala - Consultancy on Patent search and filing.
- Kerala Agricultural University – Facilitating IPR protection of plant varieties
Conferences, Training and Workshops
One of the major programmes of the IUCIPRS is to conduct seminars, conferences, workshops and training programmes in IPR related areas for the purpose initiating discussions on current issues of various forms of IP, finding solutions to major challenges in IP, evolving policy framework in the context of international negotiations, imparting training to professionals, industrialists, teachers, judicial officers etc. The Centre along with the IPR Chair at CUSAT celebrated the following programmes.
- IP Day – April of 26th of every year .
- Refresher Course for Law Teacher s (IPR) – 8 days in June every year.
- Rethinking IP - 3 days workshop for law students in January/February every year.
- IPR Awareness programme in various Universities & Colleges across Kerala round the year.
- Research methodology specific to intellectual property
Publications/Seminar/Conference Proceedings/Conference Participation and Presentations
The staff and research students of the Centre has participated in a number of international and national conferences, presented papers and published papers.
- 126 Publications in International/National Journals.
- 8 Book Chapters/Books
- 223 Conferences/ Training/Workshops attended
- 145 As Resource persons/Panel member/Co-ordinators
- 104 Papers presented in Conference/Seminars
Research fellowships / Grants
- PhD Fellowship:-
In 2015 Centre started offering full time fellowship to research scholars registered for Ph.D in other Universities in Kerala who are working in IPR related areas in different disciplines for upto 4 years. One fellowship has been awarded till date.
- Minor Research Project:-
The Centre also initiated award of Minor Research Project to promote IPR research among the young teachers in various colleges in Kerala and rest of India. 12 Minor Research projects have been awarded till date.
- IUCIPRS Justice Rajagopala Ayyangar Summer Fellowship for Teachers:-
The Centre with the intention of attracting talented young IPR teachers from all over India to visit the Centre and do research in the area of IPR introduced the “IUCIPRS Justice Rajagopala Ayyangar Summer Fellowship for Teachers”. 3 fellowships have been awarded till date.
- Research Projects for IUCIPRS
Faculties:-
The Centre has Research Projects for IUCIPRS Faculties in the area of Kerala specific IP issues (3 awarded till date).
- IUCIPRS Post Doctoral Fellowship:-
Doctoral degree in IPR related areas - 3 Nos. (2018-19 onwards)
- Visiting Faculty:-
The Centre conceived Visiting Scholars Fellowships to facilitate interaction of the students and faculty of the Centre with scholars from other Universities and Institutions in India and abroad.
- Visiting Professor:-
Experts in the field on IPR/Economics/Science/ Management from India/abroad for a short period of up to one month (2018-19 onwards)
Library
The largest collection of IP books in south India.
We have access to relevant IP databases including Hein online and Taylor and Francis. The library consists of general books, reference books, theses of PG and PhD, loose leaf bound volumes, journals, and newspapers related to IPR. Also, have access to different patent databases like Patentone, Patentscope and Patentlens
The IUCIPRS library has procured 2 books spending Rs.18,197/- under the IPR Chair during the financial year 2021-22. The library has subscribed a journal The Patents and Trademarks Cases amounting a total of Rs.7,200/- as the annual subscription. The library has also accessioned 2 books as supplements to All India reporter. At present the library consists of a total number of 4762 books.
Programmes
The main activities of the Centre include policy research support to both Central and State Governments, supporting/assisting Government of India in international negotiations, conducting extensive research in intellectual property related areas, conducting different types of academic programmes including full time Ph.D programmes with fellowships, facilitating multi-disciplinary research, undertaking post graduate courses for students of School of Legal Studies and for students from Science, Technology and Management disciplines of CUSAT, short-time fellowships for students from other universities who have registered for Ph.D on any IP related areas, visiting fellowships for eminent academics from India and abroad giving them an opportunity to associate with IUCIPRS by engaging in teaching and research.
Admission
Five Year Intergrated dual Degree Programme (syllabus) with an approved intake of 5 students each stated in 2013. The number of students in the two batches are: Please contact our offfice for details 0484 257 5074. In addition to this, we also organize various seminars, conferences and workshops on emerging issues on Intellectual Property Law and conduct training programmes for judges, professionals, scientists, students of other Universities in India etc. The Centre also extends support to scientists, industrialists and other technical experts from CUSAT and outside in obtaining different forms of IP protection. The Centre has been undertaking various research projects and publishing books and research papers from 2003 onwards.
Students
Centre stated the multidisciplinary research programme (Ph.D) in February 2011 and admitted seven students till 2015. These students are from the disciplines of Law, Political Science, Management and Anthroplogy. One student is from Kenya on ICCR Fellowship. Five other students are also registed with the Faculty of the Centre out of which 4 were awarded Ph.D.