The Union Education Minister has recently launched the Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) to honor the 89th birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, born on 15th October 1931.
KAPILA: An Initiative for Intellectual Property Awareness
The Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign aims to educate students about the patent application process for their inventions. Despite continuous innovations in higher educational institutions, many students remain unaware of the patent filing system. Through KAPILA, these students would be able to secure benefits from their inventions via patents. The campaign stands in line with India’s goal to develop a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-2025 and emphasizes the need for students and scientists to protect intellectual property rights.
Furthermore, KAPILA will enable colleges and institutes to inspire more students to file patents as a step to safeguard and preserve their inventions and encourage research and development initiatives.
Understanding Patents in India
A patent is a property right bestowed by a sovereign authority to an inventor. This exclusive right allows the inventor to have sole control over the patented process, design, or invention for a specific period in exchange for a comprehensive disclosure of the invention. The governance of patent filing in India falls under the Patents Act, 1970.
In June 2020, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Department of Science and Technology commenced the formulation of a new national Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020).
Over 13 years, from 2005-2006 to 2017-2018, a total of 5,10,000 patent applications were filed in India. Interestingly, almost three-quarters of these applications came from foreign entities or individuals. Indian natives accounted for just 24% of the patent claims.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), India ranks 7th worldwide on the number of patents filed, with China leading the chart, followed by the USA and Japan.
Other Developments: Institution Innovation Council and ‘Intellectual Property Literacy Week’
The Institution Innovation Council (IIC) released its annual report (IIC 2.0) and announced the launch of IIC 3.0. Established by the Ministry of Education in 2018, the IIC aims to promote innovation among students by encouraging, inspiring, and nurturing them to work with new ideas through regular entrepreneurship and innovation-related activities.
Thus far, IICs have been established in about 1700 higher educational institutions. As per IIC 3.0 plans, this will extend to 5000 higher educational institutions.
To further promote awareness, the week of 15th-23rd October was celebrated as ‘Intellectual Property Literacy Week’, with various activities organised to generate online awareness about the significance and procedures of applying for a patent.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: A Brief Biography
Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam played instrumental roles in India’s missile and nuclear weapons programs like the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). His successful missile productions earned him the nickname “Missile Man”. In ISRO, he directed the development of SLV-III, India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle.
In 1998, Kalam conceived the Technology Vision 2020, a nation-wide plan geared towards transitioning India into a developed society in 20 years through measures such as agricultural productivity enhancement, technology-driven economic growth, and wider access to healthcare and education.
He served as India’s 11th President from 2002 to 2007. He authored several popular works, including his autobiography ‘Wings of Fire’, and received high honours like the Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997). His life journey ended on 27th July 2015 at Shillong, Meghalaya.
