IIIT-A takes one more stride

WITH THE onset of monsoon, Allahabad's Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-A) seems to be receiving ample success showers. The institute can now boast of being the second rare institution after the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore of the country to have been selected for establishing a patent referral centre by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. A communication in this regard was received by IIIT-A from the Union ministry dated June 14, 2006 .

Selected to house India’s second patent referral centre

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WITH THE onset of monsoon, Allahabad's Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-A) seems to be receiving ample success showers. The institute can now boast of being the second rare institution after the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore of the country to have been selected for establishing a patent referral centre by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

A communication in this regard was received by IIIT-A from the Union ministry dated June 14, 2006, informing the institute about the administrative approval of the setting up of a patent referral centre at IIIT-A. "We have received the communication on June 22 and since then have started making efforts to establish the ambitious centre. A core team has been appointed for the task ahead," said IIIT-A director Dr MD Tiwari.

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has sanctioned a sum of Rs 62.50 lakh as its contribution for the period of three years towards establishing of the patent referral centre. The centre will cover entire North, North Central, North South, North East and North West regions of the country.

Throwing light on the objectives and aim of the proposed centre, Dr Tiwari said that the centre's responsibilities will be to work towards creation, search and vetting of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) patents on its own and to assist small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), provide patent watch services and policy debate recommendations to the Department of Information Technology.

"The centre will also provide information and database regarding the patent applications rejected in foreign countries and being pursued in India. This will help the country to dross out stale patent applications being followed up by various companies," Dr Tiwari said.

He said that the database once ready would be passed on to the patent office to help in effective functioning.

"The Rs 62.50 lakh grant will be used in procuring capital equipment, consumables, travel, training and appointment of staff besides computers and other electronic items. Several national workshops and seminars on ICT-IPRs will also be organised from time to time by the Centre," Dr Tiwari said.

Reputed associations like Indian Semiconductor Association and TiE have entrusted the institution with evaluation and vetting of more than 150 patent applications in a year.

Expressing joy over the approval for the setting up of the centre, Dr Tiwari said that it was a recognition of the continuous efforts of IIIT-A staff, teachers and students towards establishing such an infrastructure and environment which was deemed fit for the country's second patent referral centre.