Speaking as the chief guest on the World Intellectual Property Day organized by the DPIIT-IPR Chair, Centre for Intellectual Property Rights Andhra University, Dr Y. Srinivasa Rao, Outstanding Scientist & Director, Naval Science & Technology Laboratory DRDO emphasized the importance of IPs and the role they play in value creation.

‘India filed about 64000 patents in 2022 however one needs to ask how many of them have been commercialized. Patents can create a lot of wealth once they are commercialised’ said the Outstanding Scientist & the Director of Naval Science & Technology Laboratory DRDO.

Citing the example of Germany, Dr Srinivasa Rao said that the country is a great example for the work done on patents and commercialisation. He also highlighted how Dr Albert Einstein the greatest scientist of all time had worked in the American Patent Office as a patent Examiner and how this experience helped him to come out with many great inventions subsequently.

Speaking on this year’s theme of Women and IP the NSTL director said that women have a natural ability in excelling in academics and can thus significantly contribute in the field of IPs too.

Giving the welcome address earlier DPIIT-IPR Chair and event coordinator, Prof H Purushotham explained the significance of IPR to students and how every student should aim to graduate with at least one patent publication.

Lauding the leadership of Andhra University’s Vice Chancellor Prof PVGD Prasad Reddy, the DPIIT-Chair, Prof Purushotham thanked him for his whole hearted support in creating awareness on IPR among students and also highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by the University in promoting IP and Innovation culture within the University.

‘With the help and support of our dynamic VC, IPR has been made a mandatory credit course for all the students in AU’ informed Prof Purushotham and added that over the past one and a half years over 70 patents have been filed at AU.

The DPIIT Chair further informed that AU has introduced an IPR policy wherein all the costs associated with filing an IP will be borne by the university.

‘Any student or faculty of AU wanting to file for a patent doesn’t have to worry about the filing costs as these will be borne by the university.

These are savings of at least Rs 1 lakh ‘ noted Prof Purushotham. As AU is also the state nodal agency for IPRs Prof Purushotham has urged the state government to also provide some financial assistance to them so that they can better provide their services to MSMEs too.

The world IP day event was well attended by the Vice Chancellor Prof PVGD Prasad Reddy, Prof V Krishna Mohan Registrar, Prof Shyamal Head of the Department Chemistry, Mr Ravi Eswarapu, Prof Padma Shree Head of the Department Chemical Engineering and Prof K Basavayya along with a class full of students.

Also the AP IPR Champions Quiz Competition winners were announced who were given first, second and third prizes namely: Ms.Avuthu Vyshnavi B.Tech 3rd year Mechanical Andhra University Engineering College  ,Mr Batna Bhaskara Rao MSc Organic Chemistry Govt Degree College Cheepurupalli Vizianagaram and Marada Ms Hema Prerana second year Computer Science , AU College of Engineering.