The grassroot level entrepreneurs will soon get an easier way to get their products patented as the State is all set to have its very own patent cell in the coming days. Jharkhand Science, technology and Innovation Council (JSTIC) is all set to set up the cell within the next six months, which will prove to be a boon for a number of entrepreneurs and startups in the State.
Executive director of JSTIC, GSP Gupta said, “The new policy of Government of India calls for development of a patent cell in every State by the science and technology council of the State. It is under the same policy that we will also be setting up the cell.”
The science and technology council of Gujarat has been given the responsibility of organizing training programmes for officials from every State to set up the cell, following which a session is to be held in Gandhinagar from July 29 to 31 in which officials from Jharkhand would be participating.
Gupta informed that while he will be heading the team, he would be accompanied by two professors of BIT Sindri and three from other polytechnic colleges of the State.
The training session will also include officials from the science and technology council of Bihar, Bengal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Meghalaya.
“Once we attend the training we will have a clearer perspective on how to set up the patent cell,” Gupta said.
The patent cell will not just help patenting the new discoveries but also the already existing items specific to Jharkhand like hadiya (rice beer), Rugra (local mushrooms), Mahua laddoos and a number of other things. “Once these items are patented we can go ahead with getting geographical indicator tags for these tribal specific items too,” the executive director said.
“There are a number of food products, which are made in the interior areas of Jharkhand by self help groups like edible things made of tamarind, jackfruit, putkal saag and other locally available fruits and vegetables. We plan to patent these things so that they can be branded and marketed in a big way,” Gupta said.
At present, there is no option available to get things patented at State level. “As a result, most of the things which are found or made in Jharkhand are not patented. Also, the small time entrepreneurs are unable to spend money to go to other States to get their products patented. Once they have an option available at State level, they will easily be able to avail it and brand and market their products better,” Gupta said.