Mysore/Mysuru: JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru in association with the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) has established an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell and the same was inaugurated recently at the Board Room of JSS Medical College in city.

The objectives of the IPR Cell are to strengthen and expand human resources and institutions for training, research and skill building in Intellectual Property (IP), to raise awareness about IP, catalyse commercialisation of IP and to promote respect for IP rights. This would be a unique cell as the focus of this IPR Cell would be on innovations, IPR and commercialisation in the health sciences sector, medical devices, and patient care.

Chief guest of the event Prof. K.S. Rangappa, former Vice- Chancellor of University of Mysore, highlighted the importance of scientific research and outcomes in terms of IPR wherein he cited his own example of how out of the 7,000 molecules that he worked on, he could patent 12 products and 2 of these have been commercialised which are generating revenue for the IPR Cell of the University of Mysore.

Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore, emphasised the importance of IPR in academic institutions.

H. Hemanth Kumar, Executive Secretary, KSCST, Bengaluru, delivered the keynote address and appreciated the efforts of JSS AHER in health science research and innovation.

The inaugural programme was presided by Dr. Surinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor of JSS AHER. Dr. B. Manjunatha, Registrar, JSS AHER, Dr. Prashant Vishwanath, Director (Research), JSS AHER, Dr. S. Chandra Nayak, Co-ordinator, Vijnana Bhavan, University of Mysore and Dr. V. Balamuralidhara, Coordinator, JSS AHER – KSCST IPR Cell, were present along with the Deans, faculty and research scholars of JSS AHER.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between JSS AHER and KSCST for the establishment of the JSS AHER- KSCST IPR Cell. The MoU will provide support to the IPR and its related activities and benefit all the academic institutions in Mysuru who can avail the services related to IPR through this Cell.