The Indian Institute of Technology Patna organised a five-day Certificate Course Programme on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) from February 23 to February 28, aimed at equipping students, researchers, start-ups and MSMEs with practical knowledge of intellectual property protection and commercialisation. As part of the programme, a one-day workshop was conducted on February 26 in collaboration with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) at IIT Patna.
Eminent Experts Address Inaugural Session
The inaugural session featured Prof. Vani Bhushan, Professor of Law at Patna University, Mr Saurabh Bindal, Partner at Fox Mandal and author of a book on IPR, Dr Sweta Sinha, Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Patna, and Prof. Nalin Bharti, DPIIT IPR Chair at IIT Patna.
Speakers underlined that intellectual property is no longer confined to legal theory but has emerged as a strategic business asset in a competitive global economy. They emphasised that innovators must not only create but also strategically protect and commercialise their ideas.
Workshop Stresses MSME Registration and Government Support
During the February 26 workshop, Dr Rochak Rathore addressed participants on the importance of UDYAM registration for MSMEs to avail government benefits. He explained that various subsidies are available for filing patents and other intellectual property applications in India and abroad, significantly reducing financial barriers for small enterprises.
IIT Patna Director Prof. T.N. Singh also delivered an address, highlighting that clarity in ownership rights and funding agreements is essential in today’s globalised innovation ecosystem. He stressed that the real success of innovation lies in transforming research into market-driven value.
Academic Sessions by Leading IPR Experts
The certificate course included lectures by Prof. Nalin Bharti, Prof. Tushar Kanti Saha, Barrister and Former Vice-Chancellor of Starford International University, Kolkata, Dr Mrityunjay Kumar, PhD, IIT Patna and Research Assistant to the IPR Chair, Prof. V.K. Unni from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and Dr. Pankaj Kumar, DPIIT IPR Chair at IIT Guwahati.
Sessions covered patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs and geographical indications, along with practical insights into intellectual property strategy and commercialisation.
The six-day academic engagement was hosted by the PhD scholars of Prof. Nalin Bharti — Muskan Kanwar, Srishti Sahay, Preeti Puja, Sony Agrawal and Madhuri Kumari. The programme was managed by Prof. Nalin Bharti along with Scholar Shivaditya and assistants Manish Raj, Dhaswanth, Avinash Kumar, Aman and Dr Mrityunjay Kumar.
Participant Experience and Networking Impact
Sharing his experience, participant Shaunit Nishant said that while many attendees had some basic understanding of intellectual property rights, listening to academicians like Dr Nalin Bharti and Dr Tushar Kanti Saha provided deeper clarity and confidence. He added that the programme not only strengthened conceptual knowledge but also helped participants connect with like-minded individuals interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Examination and Valedictory Session
On the concluding day, a written examination was conducted to evaluate participants’ understanding of IPR concepts. Two students achieved a perfect score of 30 out of 30 and were felicitated by Smriti Singh, Professor of English in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Patna. All participants were awarded certificates upon successful completion of the programme.
The valedictory session was addressed by Prof. Nirmal Kumar, former Principal of Bhagalpur Engineering College, Prof. Tushar Kanti Saha and Prof. Nalin Bharti. Speakers reiterated that strengthening intellectual property awareness is crucial for fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship and enhancing India’s global competitiveness in the knowledge economy.
