ABS mechanism and Conservation of Traditional Knowledge systems through Patents and IPR regime

30 Jan, 2018

A one day interactive workshop on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism and Conservation of Traditional Knowledge systems through patents and the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime was held on 30th January 2018 in Dehradun. The objective of the workshop was to sensitize scientists, researchers and research institutions about their obligation to follow the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 with particular reference to the access and benefit sharing of biological resources, patents and other related Intellectual Property Rights through Knowledge & Experience sharing, presentations, discussions and expert interaction.

The workshop informed researchers and scientists dealing with the biological resources in India about the section 6, Form III of the Biological Diversity Act which states that it is mandatory to seek the permission of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) before applying for Intellectual Property Rights. All research conducted in the field must be shared with the State Biodiversity Board as well as the NBA.

In this occasion 70 head of institutions, scientists and researchers from different institutions like Forest Resource Institute, Doon University, Sardar Bhagwan Singh Post Graduate Institute, Wildlife Institute of India, Graphic Era University, Doon medical college, Survey of India, Dehradun Institute of Technology, Dolphin Institute, Herbal Research and Development Institute, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), were present.

Chairman of State biodiversity Board Dr. Rakesh Shah along with DG UCOST, Dr. R Dobhal, Dr. R Saha advisor DST, Mr. SS Rasaily and Dr. Aeshita Mukherjee-Wilske Team leader (ABS partnership project) from GIZ inaugurated the workshop and delivered the message. Dr. R Saha (Ex director TIFAC DST GoI), shared his knowledge on the process and mechanisms of patents, Intellectual Property Rights, Certification and also narrated his experience on handling the issues at Government level.

The Access and Benefit Sharing Partnership Project is a bilateral cooperation between Germany and India to technically reinforce the mandate of the Nagoya protocol. The project is jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the MoEFCC through the NBA and the three the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) of Uttrakhand, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The workshop demonstrated the successful collaboration between the Uttarakhand State council for Science and Technology (UCOST), the State Biodiversity Board, Uttarakhand with the support of GIZ.