Naovina Development Of IP And Research Foundation: Round Table Discussion On Strengthening IP For Innovation & Cultural Preservation In South Asia [21st - 22nd Dec]

The Centre for Development of Intellectual Property and Research (CDIPR), Naovina Development of Intellectual Property and Research Foundation, announces the Round Table Discussion as part of the South Asian Global Intellectual Property Summit, 2024. Scheduled for 21st and 22nd December, 2024, this event aims to foster collaboration among nations in South Asia and beyond to strengthen intellectual property (IP) frameworks, address pressing challenges and explore innovative solutions for regional and global IP dynamics.

This Round Table Discussion is a two days virtual event that brings together leading policymakers, academicians, industry professionals, and IP experts from across South Asia to address the region's most pressing challenges in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The theme, “Bridging Borders: Strengthening Intellectual Property Frameworks for Innovation, Climate Resilience and Cultural Preservation in South Asia”, reflects the shared commitment to leveraging intellectual property for sustainable development, fostering innovation, protecting traditional knowledge and driving regional economic growth.

The South Asian Global Intellectual Property Summit, 2024, is a month-long event featuring hackathons, competitions, paper presentations, guest lectures, and workshops, attracting participation from 36 countries globally. The summit brings together thought leaders, legal experts, policymakers and researchers from South Asia and across the globe. It features a diverse lineup of programs, including hackathons, IP challenges, paper presentations, and the signature Guest Lecture Series. For more information visit https://cdipr.icchr.in/global-ip-summit-2024. The Summit is in Global Collaboration with the University of Oxford, Harvard University, National University of Singapore, University of South Australia, Queen Mary University, George Washington University Law School, University of Berkeley and Stanford University.

The Round Table Discussion, the summit's capstone event, will bring together policymakers, academicians, legal professionals, and industry leaders to deliberate on the theme: “Bridging Borders: Strengthening Intellectual Property Frameworks for Innovation, Climate Resilience, and Cultural Preservation in South Asia.”

This is the first-ever South Asian IP Summit, creating a virtual forum for multi-stakeholder dialogue on IP issues crucial to regional development.

Virtual Round Table: Key Highlights

The Round Table Discussion will be conducted virtually, streamed live across platforms such as LinkedIn and YouTube, enabling participants and viewers from around the world to engage.

Day One: December 21, 2024

Opening Address:

● Prof. Dr. Syamala Kandadai (India): Dean of Faculty, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, India will set the stage with a vision for regional IP collaboration.

Key Sessions:

1. Harmonizing Regional IP Laws

○ Speaker: Prof. Dr. Arhan Sthapit (Professor & Dean, Faculty of Management & Law, Nepal Open University, Nepal)

○ Focus: Challenges and opportunities in aligning South Asian IP laws for regional innovation.

2. Climate Change and Technology Access

○ Speaker: Dr. Aziz ur Rehman (Director, School of Law, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan)

○ Focus: IP frameworks for climate-resilient technology sharing and regional sustainability.

3. IP and Digital Transformation

○ Speaker: Prof. (Adv.) Dipak G. Parmar (Founder, Cyber-IPR, India)

○ Focus: Addressing IP enforcement in the fast-evolving digital ecosystem of South Asia.

4. IP Policy and Digital Innovation in South Asia

○ Speaker: Dr. Gururaj Devarhubli (Assistant Professor, Institute of Law Nirma University, India)

○ Focus: IP Policy and Digital Innovation for the future of South Asia.

Panel Discussion:

Moderated by Ms. Preyansi Desai, exploring actionable strategies to strengthen regional IP cooperation.

Day Two: December 22, 2024

Keynote Address:

● Prof. Dr. M. R. S. Murthy (India): DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, India will be delivering a keynote Address on “The Role of IP in South Asia's Sustainable Development.”

Special Focus Sessions:

1. Preserving Traditional Knowledge & Geographical Indications (GIs)

○ Speaker: Prof. Dr. Md. Towhidul Islam (Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh)

○ Focus: Using GIs to protect cultural heritage and promote regional products.

2. IP Enforcement Challenges in South Asia

Speaker: Prof. Nilan Bharti (DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, India)

Focus: IP Enforcement Challenges on Combating Piracy and Counterfeiting

3. Geographical Indication and Protecting Cultural Identity

○ Speaker: Dr. Manjula Sandirigama (Associate Professor, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

○ Focus: Geographical Indications in protecting Cultural Identity of South Asia.

4. Emerging IP Challenges in Small Island Nations

○ Speaker: Ms. Uza Fathimath Waheeda (Head of the Department of Law, Faculty of Shari'ah and Law, The Maldives National University, Maldives)

○ Focus: IP barriers and opportunities for small island nations.

5. The Future of SMEs: Leveraging IP for Growth

○ Speaker: Dr. Pankaj Kumar (DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor, National Law University and Judicial Academy, India)

○ Focus: Role of IP in driving innovation and economic sustainability for SMEs in South Asia.

6. Changing IP Prosecution and Litigation in South Asia

○ Speaker: Ms. Rachna Bakhru (Partner, RNA, Technology and IP Attorneys, India)

○ Focus: Changing Dynamics of IP Prosecution and Litigation in South Asia.

Closing Panel Discussion:

Experts and delegates will collaboratively present recommendations for creating robust IP frameworks to drive innovation and economic growth in South Asia.

The event will conclude with a vote of thanks by Mr. Dipendu Das, Director of CDIPR, acknowledging the contributions of all speakers, panelists and participants.

Event Objectives

1. Regional Cooperation: Lay the groundwork for unified IP policies across South Asia.

2. Empowering SMEs and Startups: Develop strategies to use IP as a tool for economic and technological advancement.

3. Cultural Preservation: Strengthen frameworks for protecting traditional knowledge and GIs.

4. Climate Resilience: Propose inclusive IP frameworks for sharing climate-resilient technologies.

Participating Countries

The Round Table welcomes IP experts and delegates from South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Afghanistan, along with participants from 13 additional countries globally, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany.

Expected Outcomes

1. Policy Recommendations: Concrete strategies for enhancing IP collaboration across South Asia.

2. Innovation Acceleration: Frameworks to encourage IP-driven innovation for regional growth.

3. Global Perspectives: Incorporation of best practices from international IP systems.

4. Cultural Preservation: Robust plans to protect and promote regional traditions and knowledge.

Event Details

📅 Date: 21st and 22nd December, 2024

🕛 Time: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM (IST)

🖥 Mode: Virtual

⏳ Duration: 2-3 Hours

🔗 Broadcast: Live streaming on LinkedIn and YouTube

For more details, refer to the brochure here