India-UK International Virtual Conference on Intellectual Property

Chandigarh, May 6, 2022: An International Conference on Intellectual Property Rights was organised Online by the Panjab University from May 4-6. 2022 to commemorate World IPR Day and its theme of Youth and IPR. While welcoming around one hundred delegates and expert speakers from India and UK, Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University talked about IP verticals in the context of Panjab University’s collaborative MoU with Nottingham Trent University. The conference was hosted jointly by Nottingham Trent University and the Panjab University. The two universities have been working in collaboration on several projects such as Student Summer School Exchange and joint research in Science and Technology.

On the first day of the conference, Prof. Rupinder Tiwari (DPIIT-IPR Chair, PU) Dr. Jatinder K Arora (Exec. Director, Punjab State Council for Science & Tech) Prof. Raman Mittal (Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, UK) , Dr. Janice Denoncourt (Ass. Professor of Law, NTU, UK), Prof. Cillian Ryan (pro- VC (international), NTU,UK), Dr. Parvinder Maini (Scientific  Secretary, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor, GoI.) and Dr. Yogesh Pai (DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor, National Law University,Delhi) presented their views. Mr Huw Watkins, Head , Asia Policy, UK Intellectual property Office, UK was the Guest of Honour. 

Prof. Rupinder Tewari, the IPR Conference Chair said, “The conference has been organised with the motive of spreading knowledge on IPR, its importance and protection. This conference will provide an opportunity for young minds to learn of systematic development through intellectual property”.                                          
On the second day of the IPR Conference, Dr W. M. Dhumane (DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor, Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai), Dr. Sarasija Padmanaban (]Distance Learning Tutor, WIPO Academy, Bangaluru), Dr. H Purushotham (DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor, Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam), Alex Riechel (Head, TISC Development Section, IP for innovators Department, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and Alex Riechel (Head, TISC Development Section, IP for innovators Department, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ) addressed the delegates. 

The Second session on the second day was moderated by Dr. Janice Denoncourt (Assoc. Professor, NTU, Nottingham, UK) and Prof. Devinder Singh (Chairperson, Dept. of Laws, PU, Chandigarh). It was made up of presentations by PHD students and young researchers in IP from India and UK and the discussion was lively and constructive. 

The conference concluded on May 6 with presentations by Dr. V.Sattigeri (Head, CSIR-Traditional Knowledge Digtal Library ) Prof. Rupak Chakravarty (PU). A Discussion on ‘From Class Room to Court Room: Lessons from an Integrated Approach to Ip education’ was moderated by Prof. Rupinder Tewari with the contribution of Prof. Jane Jarman and Mr Peter Vaughan form NTU, UK.  The conference concluded with a Roundtable Meet on’ Stimulation of IP Ecosystem in the Academic Sector.’  The participants were eminent scientists and researchers from UK and India. Views from both countries were presented, it is hoped that future plans and collaborations will emanate from this conference.