Building IP Capacity Across Nations: ICRISAT’s South-South Training Sparks Cross-Country Learning
Media Release
Hyderabad, India –The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, conducted a two-week international training on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) from 17-29 March 2025. The program fostered South-South collaboration and cross-learning among 33 professionals from 16 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America with India through expert-led sessions, hands-on training, and site visits.
The training program on 'Comprehensive Learning on Intellectual Property Rights for Policy-Level Interventions in an International Context' brought together participants representing government agencies, public and private organizations, and research institutions, including CGIAR centers-Africa Rice, IITA, World Fish, and CIMMYT.
Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, emphasized the significance of robust IP systems in fostering innovation and economic transformation. "In agriculture, knowledge was once freely shared. Today, as innovation gains value, protecting it through Intellectual Property Rights is crucial. Those of us in this field must stay informed and adapt, " said Dr Pathak.
Learning from industries was prioritized, and participants visited:
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus: The visit offered a powerful, firsthand glimpse into how a premier Indian academic institution like the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, is shaping the future of innovation, research, and entrepreneurship in India. They engaged with student innovators, witnessed product demonstrations, and explored how the institution supports intellectual property (IP) for faculty and students.
T-Works: At India’s largest prototyping center, the delegation saw how the Telangana Government empowers grassroots innovators with cutting-edge infrastructure, expert guidance, and a collaborative ecosystem to transform ideas into reality.
Through the classroom training sessions at ICRISAT, participants gained hands-on experience with IP searches, prosecution strategies, commercialization models, and policy development frameworks.
Addressing the participants at the valedictory session, Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General-Research & Innovation, ICRISAT, said, "I commend you all for your dedication to learning about IP rights despite being experts in your fields. The responsibility now lies with you to drive meaningful change in your countries through the action plans you have developed."
"The positive feedback from last year’s training is the reason for the conduct of this course again this year. I commend Team ICRISAT for their efforts in making this program a success and wish that the learnings are taken forward by the participants in their work domain," said Mr Sanjay Agarwal, Assistant Director General, ICRISAT,
The experiential learning approach and interactive discussions with IP stakeholders provided participants with actionable insights for implementing strategic interventions in their respective domains. Participants appreciated engaging with experts and gaining practical exposure to global IP best practices.
Participant feedback:
"This IP training has been far more impactful than those I attended in developed countries. The case studies and shared experiences closely reflect the challenges I face back home and provide practical solutions I can implement in my country." – Ms Deidre Ngaatendwe Ndudzo, University of Zimbabwe.
"This training was a fantastic opportunity to learn and network with different countries. Beyond IP, I appreciated visiting ICRISAT’s facilities, especially the entomology laboratory and the Leasy Scan, building connections that will help facilitate future collaborations." – Ms Sheila De Souza Correa De Melo, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation.
"This training gave me valuable insights into the IP landscape in the Indian context. The interactions here have helped me shape an action plan for my country and build connections for advancing crop research in my country." – Javad Vafabakhsh, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Iran.
The training program was facilitated by ICRISAT staff Dr Surya Mani Tripathi, Global Head – Legal Services, and Ms Sravanti Vedula, Associate Manager – Innovation Management, Legal Services Unit, with the support of ICRISAT's Dryland Academy, led by Dr Padmaja Ravula, Principal Scientist & Cluster Leader, Knowledge, and Capacity Development.
