Assessment of intellectual property management and technology commercialization in animal science research

Abstract

To understand the innovation-based initiatives in the animal science sector, IP&TM Unit of ICAR has analysed IP management, and technology commercialization/licensing activities. The study provided a snapshot on IP portfolios of animal science-based institutes and universities in India and abroad. The IP based initiatives in the form of policy implementation, in-depth awareness and training programmes increased the ICAR’s IP portfolio with 485 Patent applications, 40 Designs, and 87 Trademarks in animal science research in last 20 years. UGC affiliated 38 Animal Science research-based universities also benefitted with these efforts and added 564 patent applications at IPO. World Top-100 veterinary universities patent portfolio was accessed which brought a growing trend IP filing with 35.20% applications before 2006, followed by 14.82% in 2006-2010, 16.52% in 2011-2015, 18.58% in 2016-2020, and 14.88% after 2020, respectively. To transfer the ICAR’s animal science-based innovations through technology commercialization, 473 licensing agreements were signed with 279 public and private organisations and entrepreneurs in which 234 technologies were transferred in between 2007 to 2024. These innovations have reached 25 states and union territories across the country. The continuous efforts of IP&TM Unit and ITMUs under NAIF, 43.96% licensed technologies were protected by filing of patents (34.62%), Trademark (6.41%), Design (2.13%), and Copyrights (0.42%). To institutionalize the agri-business environment in animal science research, seven ABI centres are working in the field of dairy, veterinary, meat, poultry, piggery, sheep, and animal health. These IP filing and technology commercialization trends prove that innovation management and its transfer to the industry is an important pillar of economic growth.