Apeejay Stya University hosts week-long FDP to Strengthen IPR & Patent filing skills among educators

Apeejay Stya University (ASU), in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and the Academic and Administrative Development Centres (AADC), successfully organised a One-Week Online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on “Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Filing in Higher Education Institutions” from 1st to 5th December 2025. Sponsored by Mediversal Academy, the programme brought together educators from universities across India, creating a vibrant platform for learning and innovation-oriented discussion.

Strengthening IPR Literacy in Higher Education

In a rapidly evolving knowledge economy, understanding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) has become essential for educators guiding student research and innovation. Keeping this learning objective at the centre, the FDP aimed to build institutional capacity by helping teachers identify, protect, and commercialise academic ideas.

The inaugural day featured a tribute to Dr. Stya Paul, followed by an insightful address by Prof. G. S. Raghvender. He emphasised the growing role of higher education institutions in managing patents, copyrights, trademarks, designs, and geographical indications. His session highlighted the responsibility of academia in fostering a culture of creativity and research-driven growth.

Understanding Patentability and the Legal Landscape

The programme continued with an in-depth session by Mr. Vimal Kumar, who explained India’s legal framework for IPR, including the International Patent Classification (IPC) and essential online tools for researchers.

Day two featured Mr. Govind Sharma (NRDC), who broke down the criteria of patentability—novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. His explanation of patent filing procedures and prior art analysis helped participants understand how to assess research ideas and prepare them for legal protection.

Mastering Patent Drafting: A Hands-on Learning Experience

Day three took faculty members deeper into the practical aspects of IPR. Mr. Rajneesh Kumar (BITS Pilani) guided participants through the structure of a patent specification, including claims, abstracts, and drawings. By sharing case studies from universities, he illustrated how IPR cells and incubation centres support faster patent filings.

The day concluded with Mr. Vimal Kumar’s session on global patent databases and search strategies—an essential skill for researchers aiming to avoid duplication and strengthen their innovations.

From Drafting to Commercialisation: Preparing Educators for Real-world Innovation

On day four, Ms. Suvarna Pandey, Registered Patent Agent, offered hands-on exercises in drafting claims and structuring specifications. This interactive session helped participants gain confidence in the technical art of patent documentation.

Later, Mr. Rajneesh Kumar returned to focus on commercialisation models, licensing structures, and revenue-generation pathways. His insights highlighted how universities can transform classroom ideas into market-ready innovations through strategic collaborations.

Ethics, Integrity & Institutional IPR Policies

The final day featured Dr. Manish Rawat (Manipal University Jaipur), who discussed the ethical dimensions of IPR. He reinforced the difference between plagiarism and genuine innovation, stressing the importance of academic integrity. He further explained how strong institutional IPR frameworks enable compliance, transparency, and responsible research culture.