In a significant step towards enhancing innovation management and intellectual property protection, the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) recently organized a Patent Filing Activity meeting in collaboration with CSIR’s specialized units—the Unit for Research and Development of Information Products (URDIP) and the Innovation Protection Unit (IPU). The two-day event, held from 28th to 29th August 2024, was chaired by Dr. Prakash Kumar, Director of CSIR-NGRI, and brought together leading experts to discuss strategies for effective patent filing and intellectual property (IP) management.

The meeting was attended by several distinguished scientists, including Dr. Kishore Sreenivasan, Outstanding Scientist and Head of CSIR-URDIP; Dr. Prafulla Malwadkar, Chief Scientist at CSIR-URDIP; Dr. B. Sridevi, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-URDIP; Dr. Shikha Rastogi, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-IPU; and Dr. Seema, Senior Scientist at CSIR-IPU. Their presence underscored the importance of the event and the collaborative spirit of the participating institutions.

During the meeting, young scientists from various geophysical divisions of CSIR-NGRI presented their innovative ideas related to earth science research. These presentations were followed by thorough reviews and discussions with experts from CSIR-URDIP and CSIR-IPU, who provided critical insights and assessments. The goal was to identify the most promising ideas for potential patent filing, paving the way for groundbreaking research and development initiatives.

CSIR-URDIP plays a pivotal role in the pre-research and pre-development stages of research projects, offering crucial intellectual property and techno-commercial information services to a wide range of clients, including start-ups, SMEs, research institutes, large Indian corporations, and multinational companies. Its services are particularly valuable to R&D departments, legal teams, new business development units, and multi-functional corporate teams, helping them navigate the complexities of intellectual property management.

Similarly, the Innovation Protection Unit (IPU) of CSIR is dedicated to safeguarding the intellectual property generated across CSIR’s numerous research initiatives. The IPU manages patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights, ensuring comprehensive protection of intellectual assets and contributing to the competitive advantage of CSIR’s research endeavors.

The meeting underscored the importance of fostering a collaborative environment for sharing best practices in patent filing and IP management. It highlighted the need for robust intellectual property protection to maintain a competitive edge in the global market, emphasizing that innovation is key to achieving this goal. The event marks a significant advancement in CSIR’s ongoing efforts to strengthen intellectual property protection and innovation management, reinforcing India’s position in the global research and development arena.