ICRISAT Equips Global Leaders with Technology Transfer Expertise for Real-World Impact
ICRISAT, through the Government of India's ITEC program, trained 50 professionals from 23 nations, building skills to transform innovations into practical applications.
Hyderabad, India – Providing a comprehensive deep dive into the intricacies of technology transfer, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) successfully concluded an intensive two-week International Training on Mastering Technology Transfer: A Global Pathway for Developing Countries on 13 June 2025. Supported by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, the course trained 50 professionals from 23 countries in transferring innovations from lab to field.
The participants came from diverse backgrounds, including policymakers, researchers, and industry experts. They gained skills in technology management, technology valuation, commercialization, and legal frameworks for enabling technology transfer. The program emphasized practical strategies to enhance technology transfer, empowering attendees to drive impactful change in their respective nations.
"Scientists around the world are developing breakthrough agricultural technologies, but many of these innovations never reach the farmers who need them most. Bridging this gap between innovation and adoption is a global challenge. This course is about turning that challenge into opportunity, ensuring that scientific advances are translated into real-world impact," stated Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.
The course featured engagements with over 40 domain experts from leading institutions, including the CGIAR Center, Alliance of Bioversity International - International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); the University of Johannesburg, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur; ICFAI Law School; the Ministry of MSME; and India's leading tech transfer office, IKP Knowledge Park (IKP PRIME).
“This program is a two-way exchange of knowledge. While participants gain vital skills in technology transfer, we at ICRISAT equally benefit from their practical insights and on-the-ground experiences,” said Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, ICRISAT.
The training also featured two dynamic technical field visits. The first to Genome Valley, India’s premier life sciences cluster, where the participants visited Bharat Biotech International Limited and Sai Life Sciences Limited, and gained insights into tech transfer practices in biotech incubation, vaccine development, and advanced drug discovery. The second visit was to BITS Pilani – Hyderabad campus, which exemplified how the Indian educational system is actively enabling innovation and technology transfer.
ICRISAT’s Global Research Program Directors—Dr Sean Mayes (Accelerated Crop Improvement), Dr Rebbie Harawa (Resilient Farm and Food Systems, and Director of the Africa Program), and Dr Victor Afari-Sefa (Enabling Systems Transformation)—shared expert insights on the dynamics of technology transfer and intellectual property. Their discussions spanned the entire innovation pathway, from crop breeding and variety development to the adoption of new technologies at the farmer level.
Dr Surya Mani Tripathi, Global Head of Legal Services at ICRISAT and course coordinator, expressed gratitude to India's Ministry of External Affairs and the ITEC network for their sustained support in the dissemination of critical knowledge on Technology management across the Global South countries.
“The Ministry of External Affairs’ ITEC program remains a cornerstone of India's development diplomacy and foreign policy, reinforcing India's dedication to strengthening global partnerships through capacity-building. I congratulate all the participants on completing the intensive program,” said Ms Snehaja Jonnalagadda, Head, Branch Secretariat, Hyderabad, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
View the Video for Participant Insights
In her concluding address, Cluster Leader - Knowledge and Capacity Development & Gender and Youth, Dr Padmaja Ravula, motivated participants to serve as ambassadors for technology transfer frameworks in their respective countries.
Roseleen Aind
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