Page 10 - WINGS OF AGRI-INNOVATIONS

Three-Tier IP Management Mechanism at ICAR For crop science based technologies, Zonal Technology Management Centre (ZTMC) was established at
In 2006, ICAR launched its key IP management policy elements together with well-versed guidelines for
“Intellectual Property Management and Technology Transfer/ Commercialization (IPM&TT/C)”. Under these
guidelines, commercial ethos in the transfer of skills and products were institutionalized through the following
three-tier IP management mechanism in each one of its institutes:
1) Agro-Technology Management Centre (ATMC) at ICAR level;
2) Zonal Technology Management Centres (ZTMC); and
3) Institute Technology Management Units (ITMU)
This 3-tier mechanism ensures a decentralized and empowered system with handholding opportunity
for other institutes by the ZTMCs, an upward-downward back and forth decision support, capability for
commercialization and public-interest decisions in technology transfer (TT). The ICAR keeps all IP assets and
maintains relevant records related to IP, TT and commercialization in various ICAR institutions.
ATMC serves as the apex unit, which facilitates, coordinates and monitors the implementation of IPR and TT
policies across the ICAR establishments. ZTMCs handle pre-defined zones through their Business Planning
and Development (BPD) Units and have regional roles in managing ICAR’s IP and TT activities. The ITMUs,
created in each ICAR institute is headed by the institute’s director and provides decision-making support
system through the respective ITMCs. Researchers at ICAR institutions are encouraged to disclose their
inventions to ITMU, which evaluates the novelty of the research, patentability of the invention or respective
criteria of other IPR protection (e.g. plant variety protection, trademark, design protection, etc.) and pursues
the process of IPR protection and maintenance, accordingly.
Academia - Industry Cooperation at ICAR-IARI: Public-Private Partnership
In the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), collaboration with industry was conceptualised in the late
1980s and sporadic transfer of technologies (TOT) began to take place. A business cell was established in IARI
and the transfer of technologies started through NRDC in the late 90s. However, the most vital technologies
emerging from the institute were the new improved plant varieties, hybrids and their parental lines, which
were freely available to all till the implementation of the PPV&FR Act in the country. With time, the new
trends of globalization in trade and intellectual property protection have enabled ICAR institutes and State
Agricultural Universities (SAUs) to build adequate capacity/ facilities for the conceptualization, development,
licensing and commercialization of new technologies and products, thereby instilling a culture of Intellectual
Property (IP) protection.
Specific policies and guidelines have been laid down by the ICAR to enable its institutions to work with private
partners for consultancy and collaborative research and technology development. Additionally, policies have
also been formulated for IP ownership and licensing, Right Sharing Core Research Facilities, ICAR students as
interns in the private sector and deputation of ICAR scientists/ innovators to the industry.
ZTM & BPD Unit at IARI: Nurturing & Protecting Agri Innovation
As a result of the proactive role of the ICAR in managing its technologies across all its institutes in India and
creation of Zonal Agro-Technology Management Centres (ZTMC) at the zonal level to support respective
institutes, there has been a remarkable progress in the protection of agri innovation. This initiative led to the
establishment of ten such units across India till date, based on specific subject areas.
2 3
the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), a premier agricultural research and teaching institute,
recognized as the seat of the epochal green revolution in India. Later, a new component of Business Planning
and Development (BPD) was added to it under the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) of ICAR.
This led to the constitution of the ZTM and BPD Unit of IARI in 2009. It diligently handles IP protection
and technology commercialization at IARI, along with other zonal institutes. Commercialization of protected
technology through public-private partnership models is also under its ambit. The Unit further provides
services for agribusiness incubation (ABI) activities and performs a mentorship role for agriculture innovators.
The establishment of the ZTM& BPD Unit at IARI resulted in several positive outcomes in the context of the
protection of agricultural innovation and their commercialization. With regards to its first function, namely-
IP acquisition and protection, it has been facilitating appropriate protection of all technologies created by
the ICAR-IARI scientists. This process starts right from the stage of advisory services to all scientists and
researchers of IARI. There are proper mechanisms in place for meeting the scientists and researchers,
understanding their technology, suggesting the most suitable form of IP for their technology’s protection,
and then guiding the scientists and researchers through the process of acquiring the most suitable form of
IPRs for protection of their knowledge assets.
Secondly, the ZTM and BPD Units are also actively engaged in technology commercialization by evaluating
the IP assets and identifying the potential licensees for particular technologies, whether the potential
licensees be the micro, small or medium enterprises or even large enterprises. The technologies are then
transferred via non-exclusive licenses. As per the ICAR Guidelines, 2018, the technology commercialization
role has now been transferred to Agrinnovate India Ltd (AgIn), incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956
(No. 1 of 1956) on 19 October 2011. It acts as an effective interface between Indian Council of Agricultural
th
Research (ICAR- an autonomous organization under DARE) on one side and on the other the stakeholders of
agricultural sector (farmers; public and private sector firms; R&D organizations; educational institutions- all
of these at National and International level) for all important purpose of securing, sustaining and promoting
global agricultural development.
Thirdly, the ZTM & BPD Unit is actively performing the nurturing role of the business incubators as well.
As an incubator, Pusa Krishi was set-up in the Unit itself, nurturing Agri start-ups by providing curated and
mentor-driven trainings on the aspects of managing and growing businesses, IP protection, market support,
pilot opportunities, etc. To promote this culture of innovation and consequently to ensure employment
generation and economic prosperity, the ZTM & BPD Unit offers furnished office and lab spaces, and
specialized equipment to incubates, as shared resources within the incubator. Pusa Krishi contributin
significan crea robus entrepr ecosyst countr c
mandat ‘Start ‘Mak progr Governmen India.
Creating a Culture of Intellectual Property Management: The Early Milestones for
Technology Commercialization
Performing these crucial roles, ZTM and BPD Unit of IARI has made remarkable advances in a short span
of time. IARI has filed a total of 127 patent applications from 1950 to 2020 of which 70 patents have been
granted. Likewise, 61 plant variety registration applications were filed and 37 have been registered. In the
context of trademarks, 26 trademarks applications were filed through the efforts of IARI, which include 2
well-known marks and among them 13 trademarks have been registered. Regarding copyrights, 8 copyright
applications have also been filed by the Unit, of which 7 have been registered. It is a creditable indicator of
the immense potential for IP acquisition and commercialization in the area of agricultural innovation.