The Hindu : Front Page : Scientists to get share in revenue from innovations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Scientists to get share in revenue from innovations

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A career in public funded scientific institutions is set to become attractive, with the Union Cabinet giving its nod for a Bill that will allow scientists there to have a share in the revenue generated by their innovations.

Scientists who create intellectual property rights will get at least 30 per cent of the income on the innovations after deduction of expenses incurred on protection and utilisation of the IPRs. Out of the remaining amount, the institution, where they worked, would retain 40 per cent for further research and meeting expenses for the protection and maintenance of the IPRs. The balance will be deposited in a special fund for the management of the IPRs.

The special fund would be under the charge of a committee to be constituted by the scientific organisation. Apart from managing the fund, the panel will identify, assess and document public-funded intellectual property with commercial potential generated by the institution. Besides, it would be required to monitor licensing and assignment of the IPR, conduct market research and help in the commercialisation of IPRs.

Under the Bill, every institution that receives funds from the government will have to constitute the committee. It will have to inform the government of the generation of an IPR within two months and apply, within three months, to retain the IPR title. The government will normally allow the institution to keep the IPR title, except where the security of the country is at stake.

The institution will have to submit a report every six months on the specific steps taken for utilisation of the IPRs, including details of licensees. It will also have to get the government’s written permission before assigning the IPR to anyone.

Incentives lacking now

A senior official in the Ministry of Science and Technology said the government formulated the Bill because though public-funded research in universities and academic and research institutions often produced innovations that held potential for the public good, a large portion of them was not reaching industry or the public.

For, the possession of the IPR remained with the funding agency, and there was no proper legal framework in the institutions for commercialisation. There were also not enough financial incentives for researchers. The Bill may overcome these problems.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page