New Delhi: A high-level delegation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including Sherif Saadallah, Executive Director of the WIPO Academy, and Ms. Altaye Tedla, Head of the WIPO Academy, visited NITI Aayog today to sign a Joint Letter of Intent (JLoI) with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). The JLoI aims to build programs for innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property (IP) for countries in the Global South.
The ceremony was graced by Dharmendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India. Other dignitaries from NITI Aayog present at the event included Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson; Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member; and Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission.
Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “I am very pleased to see that India’s innovation ecosystem is going global. Innovation is India’s strength. This pathbreaking partnership between AIM and WIPO will take the best of India’s innovation models to countries that are on similar development trajectories and will enhance understanding and awareness about IPR from the school level, unlocking the innovation potential of the world and fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”
Sherif Saadallah highlighted the importance of IP in fostering innovation and creativity, particularly among the youth. He said, “Intellectual property (IP) is a powerful catalyst for innovation and creativity, essential for addressing youth development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Our focus on youth is an integral part of our work to build a more inclusive global IP ecosystem. Our partnership with Atal Innovation Mission demonstrates WIPO’s commitment to ensuring youth participation in innovation and creativity, fostering a more innovative and creative global economy.”
Last year, Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, visited the AIM ecosystem and recognized Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centers (AIC) as exemplary models for innovation and entrepreneurship through South-South cooperation. This led to the invitation of Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of AIM, to showcase these initiatives at the WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The agreement signed today is a result of these discussions.
Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, remarked, “WIPO’s recognition of India’s entrepreneurship development model is a proud moment for India and NITI Aayog, which hosts the Mission. This deepens an already productive relationship between NITI Aayog and WIPO on national competitiveness.”
WIPO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, annually releases the Global Innovation Index (GII). According to the GII 2023 report, India retained the 40th position out of 132 economies. The WIPO Report 2022 also highlighted India’s sixth consecutive year of growth in patent filings, with a significant increase driven by resident filings.
Dr. V.K. Saraswat emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “In the last few years, India has made huge strides in its entrepreneurial journey in line with our international aspirations. This partnership between AIM and WIPO positions India as a global leader in innovation, leveraging our vast talent pool and dynamic market to attract international investments. This can be a game changer in fostering a culture of IP-led innovation and safeguarding our nation’s technological advancements.”
Dr. Chintan Vaishnav added, “It is our hope that the AIM-WIPO partnership will benefit many nations needing models like Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Innovation Centres to build their innovation ecosystems. The collaboration between AIM and WIPO helps make these models more holistic as innovation and entrepreneurship meet intellectual property in a significant way.”
The WIPO delegation is on a four-day visit to India and will participate in a workshop on Intellectual Property in Innovation at AIC GGSIPU, Dwarka, on 23rd July.