Emphasising the need to transform research excellence into commercially viable technologies, the ICAR–Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI), Sreekariyam, organised a sensitisation workshop on "Intellectual Property Management, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation" on Wednesday. The programme brought together over 100 scientists, faculty members, researchers, students and innovators to discuss strategies for intellectual property (IP) protection, technology transfer and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar, Principal Scientist and Officer-in-Charge, ITMU & Agri-Business Incubator, while Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI, presided over the function and highlighted the importance of creating a strong innovation ecosystem that connects research institutions with industry and entrepreneurs.Dr G. Byju stressed the importance of sensitising the scientists on the the strategies of IP monetisation and commercialisation to maximise the IP portfolio and generate revenue.
Delivering the thematic session, Mr. R.S. Praveen Raj, Scientist F, CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), a renowned expert in intellectual property management and technology commercialisation, discussed global best practices in patenting, licensing, technology valuation, startup creation and industry collaboration. He stressed that effective IP management is essential for translating laboratory innovations into market-ready technologies and societal benefits.
The workshop assumes significance at a time when Kerala is revisiting its intellectual property ecosystem. Although the State has a robust research base, recent analyses have highlighted the need to improve the conversion of research investments into patents and commercial technologies. Thiruvananthapuram, in particular, is home to several world-class research and development institutions that generate substantial intellectual property every year, offering immense opportunities for technology transfer and knowledge-based enterprises.
Speakers observed that Kerala's agriculture is predominantly high-value and export-oriented, creating significant opportunities for innovation in crop improvement, food processing, precision agriculture, post-harvest technologies and agri-biotechnology. They noted that protecting and commercialising such innovations would strengthen the competitiveness of the agricultural sector while creating new avenues for entrepreneurship, employment and value addition.
The sensitisation workshop forms part of ICAR-CTCRI's continuing efforts to promote intellectual property awareness, technology transfer and innovation-led entrepreneurship, while strengthening Kerala's position as a knowledge-driven economy.
