Science and Technology

22nd Kerala Science Congress was held at Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, Thrissur. The organisers chose “IPR and Development – A National Perspective” as the focal theme for this year’s Science Congress. It was in fact a brave decision that the organisers of a science congress opted IPR as their main theme. The organisers also published a compendium of invited papers on IPR. The compendium includes an interesting foreword from Dr. E.P. Yesodharan, Executive Vice President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (the organiser of the event). Let me post below the Foreword.

” It gives me immense pleasure to present this compendium on the focal theme of the Kerala Science Congress – 2010, i.e. “IPR and Development: A National Perspective”. In view of the greater significance achieved by Intellectual Property Rights in the recent years, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE) has selected this focal theme for this year Science Congress. It is our endeavor to highlight the necessity of encouraging the protection of innovations through legal instruments such as Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, geographical indications etc.

Intellectual Property Rights play a key role in encouraging the industrial development and economic growth of a Nation besides conferring monetary reward and accolades for the creator of Intellectual Property. India’s Science and Technology Policy 2003 envisages to establish an IPR regime, which maximises the incentives for the generation and protection of intellectual property. The Kerala Government has moved further by declaring its own Intellectual Property Rights Policy in 2008. It is intended to build an enabling environment that recognizes and values creativity and innovation while preventing private appropriation of traditional knowledge.

There are good career prospects for those who are specializing in IPR. There is also growing demand for IP experts within the country. However, IPR has not gained due acceptance among the science students in the State. The lack of IPR awareness among the larger cross-section of scientific professionals is a matter of concern for all.

There is an urgent need to intensify IPR training efforts in Scientific Institutions of the State. Kerala State Council for Science Technology & Environment is committed to promote IPR Awareness among the science fraternity of the State. We hope that Kerala Science Congress – 2010 would serve as a platform for evolving right initiatives in due course.

I wish the Congress and the Special Theme Session all success.”