A high-level team from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) visited NITI Aayog to sign a Joint Letter of Intent (JLoI) between the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and WIPO. The delegation included Mr. Sherif Saadallah, Executive Director of the WIPO Academy, and Ms. Altaye Tedla, Head of the WIPO Academy. The JLoI aims to build initiatives for innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property (IP) for nations in the Global South.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Indian government's Cabinet Minister for Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, graced the ceremony. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Dr. V.K. Saraswat, a member of NITI Aayog, Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, the mission director of the Atal Innovation Mission, and Shri Suman Bery, vice chairman of NITI Aayog.
Expressing his satisfaction with the international expansion of India's innovation ecosystem, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stated, "India's strength is its inventiveness. Through this groundbreaking collaboration between AIM and WIPO, the world's innovation potential will be unlocked, inclusive and sustainable economic growth will be promoted, and the best of India's innovation models will be brought to nations with comparable development paths. Additionally, IPR knowledge and awareness will be raised starting in schools."
Mr. Sherif Saadallah, Executive Director of the WIPO Academy, emphasized the importance of intellectual property as a catalyst for innovation and creativity, which is essential for youth development and achieving sustainable development goals. "Our partnership with Atal Innovation Mission demonstrates WIPO's commitment to ensuring youth participation in innovation and creativity so that IP ecosystems are utilized by a wider demographic, fostering a more innovative and creative global economy. Our focus on youth is an integral part of our work to build a more inclusive global IP ecosystem," he stated.
During his visit to the AIM ecosystem last year, Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, highlighted that Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centers (AIC) serve as excellent models for innovation and entrepreneurship through South-South cooperation. Following these findings, WIPO invited Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of AIM, to present these flagship projects to member countries during the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) meeting at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. These discussions culminated in the accord signed today.
Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, remarked, "WIPO's recognition of India's entrepreneurship development model is a proud moment for India and NITI Aayog, which hosts the Mission. This strengthens the fruitful cooperation between WIPO and NITI Aayog on national competitiveness."
Dr V.K. Saraswat, a Member of NITI Aayog, highlighted India's recent strides in its entrepreneurial journey, stating, "With the support of AIM and WIPO, India could be positioned as a world leader in innovation, drawing in foreign investment from its large talent pool and vibrant market. This collaboration can significantly impact the development of an IP-led innovation culture and, in turn, protect the future of our country's technical breakthroughs."
Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission, emphasized the significance of the JLoI, stating, "We hope that the AIM-WIPO partnership will benefit many nations for whom models like Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Innovation Centers are needed to build their innovation ecosystems. Since innovation and entrepreneurship now seriously intersect with intellectual property (IP), the expertise of the two parties working together helps us make these models much more holistic."
This partnership marks a significant step towards fostering global innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in nations of the Global South, through the shared expertise and collaborative efforts of AIM and WIPO.
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