Written Content (Minimum 100 Words) * A online workshop on “Importance of Intellectual Property Rights in Academia -2021” was organised by IPR Cell, Eternal University, Baru Sahib in association with Himachal Pradesh Patent Information centre (HPPIC), Shimla  on 27th March, 2021 through online mode. The coordinator of the workshop was Dr. Sunil Kumar, Assistant Professor, Eternal University, Baru Sahib.

The workshop is organised through two session including inaugural, valedictory and two technical session. More than 170 participants from various colleges of Eternal University and other university which includes faculty members, research scholars and postgraduate students were participated. In this workshop, four experts in various fields of IPR were invited as invited speakers to share their long experiences and valuable thoughts with the participants. In inaugural session, Prof. Amrik Singh Ahluwalia, Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor, Eternal University, Baru Sahib welcomes all the delegates, speakers and participants from various universities and introduced the invited speakers to all audience. The inaugural lecture was delivered by Honourable Chief Guest, Padma Shri Prof. R. C. SOBTI, Former Vice Chancellor, Punjab University, Chandigarh and Former Vice Chancellor, Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. During this inaugural lecture, Prof. Sobti discussed various form of IPR and its importance in academia. He also aware and encourage participants for patent filing for their invention.   The technical session 1 comprised of two lectures. The first lecture was delivered by Dr. Divya caushik, Scientist, Patent Information Centre and Technology Information Centre, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh. Dr. Kaushik aware all the participants about forms of IPR, patentable and non-patantable invention. She also detailed about procedure for patent filing to all the participants. The second lecture of the same session was Dr. Lipi, Patent attorney, Indian Trademark and Design Attorney (Partner of Akhildev IPR and Research Services) aware all the participants about patent filing procedure in India as well as other country. She discussed about various application system for patent filing including PCT. In this lecture, participants learnt how to go for e-filing.

In second technical session, considering the importance of IPR an overview/introduction of different kind of intellectual property rights, this session was started with the invited talk on “Overview of IPR and geographical Indication” by Dr. Sashi Dhar, HIMCOSTE, Shimla. He significantly explained all the components of IPR especially emphasised on geographical indication of Himachal Pradesh. He also detailed about the GIs like BharmourRajmah, Karsogkulthi, Chamba metal craft, PangikiThangi (Hazelnut), Chambachukh registered during 2020-21. To provide more insight in to this matter, Ms. Kompal Bansal, Director, BANSAL IP ASSOCIATES presented lecture on “Disclosing Your Invention Precautions and Pitfalls”. The presentation was quite informative and interactive. It has created huge interest among participants with various related quaries were raised and satisfied.

The valedictory session was chaired by Prof. Amrik Singh Ahluwalia, Hon’able Pro-Vice Chancellor, Eternal University, Baru Sahib. His concluding remarks encouraged and energise all the participants.