India Enhances Global Innovation Impact through AIM-WIPO Collaboration
A high-level delegation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) comprising Sherif Saadallah, Executive Director of WIPO Academy, and Altaye Tedla, Head of WIPO Academy, visited NITI Aayog to sign a Joint Letter of Intent (JLoI) between Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and WIPO. The JLoI is aimed at building programs for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Intellectual Property (IP) for countries in the Global South.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, graced the occasion. From NITI Aayog, the dignitaries present included Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, V.K. Saraswat, Member, and Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission.
Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his pleasure at the global reach of India's innovation ecosystem and highlighted the partnership between AIM and WIPO as a pathbreaking development that would enhance understanding and awareness about IPR from the school level and unlock the innovation potential globally.
Sherif Saadallah emphasized that intellectual property is a catalyst for innovation and creativity, essential for developing youth and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted the partnership with Atal Innovation Mission as a testament to WIPO’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive global IP ecosystem.
Last year, Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, visited the AIM ecosystem and praised the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centers (AIC) as a good template for innovation and entrepreneurship through South-South cooperation. This visit prompted WIPO to invite Chintan Vaishnav to showcase these initiatives at the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Today's agreement stems from these discussions.
Suman Bery noted that WIPO's recognition of India's entrepreneurship development model is a proud moment for both India and NITI Aayog, hosting the mission. He stated that this deepens an already productive relationship between NITI Aayog and WIPO on national competitiveness.
As per the Global Innovation Index 2023 report, India retained the 40th position out of 132 economies featured in the GII ranking. According to the WIPO Report 2022, India has seen a sixth consecutive year of growth in patent filing, posting the highest growth of 31.6% globally, primarily driven by an increase in resident filings.
V.K. Saraswat underlined that in recent years, India has made significant strides in its entrepreneurial journey, aligning with international aspirations. This partnership between AIM and WIPO positions India as a global leader in innovation, leveraging the country's vast talent pool and dynamic market to attract international investments.
Chintan Vaishnav expressed hope that the AIM-WIPO partnership would benefit many nations by providing models like Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Innovation Centres to build their innovation ecosystems.
The WIPO delegation is on a four-day visit to India and will participate in a workshop on Intellectual Property in Innovation organized at AIC GGSIPU, Dwarka, on 23rd July. The delegates will also interact with school students from Atal Tinkering Labs and industry experts from FICCI, NASSCOM, PHDCCI, among others during their visit.
Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative by NITI Aayog to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India.