Workshop on IPR and Technology Transfer at Dhaka

With the perspective of mobilizing ideas, discussing alternatives and understanding the tech-transfer policies in some of the renowned scientific laboratories, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Cornell University and ABSPII have jointly organized a workshop on ‘Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer’ on August 10, 2005 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.

This is the second such workshop to be held after the first meeting on the issue was conducted at Mussourie, India in April 2005.

As many as 50 eminent biotechnology practitioners, researchers, policy makers from across the globe participated in the workshop and delved extensively on the issue of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). All the participants agreed that IP is now one of the most valuable assets in commercial transactions, whether licensing agreements, manufacturing, purchase or distribution agreements or mergers and acquisitions.

Inaugurating the workshop, Bangladesh Agricultural Minster M K Anwar emphasized on urgent need to develop efficient institutional technology transfer mechanism and IPR policies on the basis of our own needs and policies as IPR is not easily understood by many people in the country yet.

Prof Lutfur Rahman, a key member of the committee that helped draft the guidelines of Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Act said their country has already finalized the draft and is waiting for approval from the Parliament to be enacted as Law. The aim is to protect farmer’s rights while framing national policies. This will also provide protection to breeders and establish farmer’s rights on protected verities that facilitate technology transfer.

Among others, Dr Frank A Shotkoski, director of the ABSPII, D Abdur Razzaque, member director (corps), BARC, K Vijayaraghavan, regional coordinator (South Asia) of ABSPII also deliberated on the issue.

The workshop helped in bringing awareness among the policy makers, helped comprehend the international technology transfer process and environment, helped to extend the efforts of ABSPII in facilitating the project partner countries in gearing up to become Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) compliant by 2008.