(mohsina bano)
Udaipur: The two-day international conference "Domain Beyond Patenting and Emerging Fields in Pharmacy: Opportunities and Challenges", jointly organized by Pacific University and the Association of Community Pharmacists of India, concluded with an appeal to make innovation and patent utility accessible to the general public. The conference witnessed participation from distinguished experts, researchers, and students in the field of pharmacy.
In the oral presentation category, Saloni Bhandari secured the first position, followed by Dr. Manushi in second place. Dr. Ankita Joshi, Tanisha Agarwal, and Prashant Prajapati shared the third position, while Utkarsh Parmar received a consolation prize. In the poster presentation category, Mahima Khandelwal won first place, Vinay Mewara came second, and Sahil Umrao along with Sanskriti and Vishal Swami were awarded third place.
Rahul Agarwal, Founder of Pacific Group of Education, announced the signing of an MoU between PAHER and the Goa Center of Intellectual Property Rights, aiming to integrate IPR with university academic activities. This collaboration is expected to enhance the quality of education and provide students with valuable learning opportunities.
The closing ceremony featured Dr. Umesh V. Banakar, Professor & President of Banakar Consulting Services, Westfield, USA, as the Chief Guest, and Professor Hemant Kothari, President of Pacific University, as the Special Guest. Advocate Surbhi Sharma, Founder & Managing Partner of Intanzia Advisors LLP and a Patent, Design, and Trademark Agent specializing in IPR law, was also present. Additionally, Dr. Rahul Taneja (Patent & Trademark Agent) and Dr. Amber Vyas (Associate Professor, Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur) shared their insights.
Professor Umesh V. Banakar stated, "Intellectual property today extends beyond just patents. Understanding copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other forms of IP is essential for directing innovation in the right manner."
Advocate Surbhi Sharma emphasized that patents should not remain merely on paper but should be practically implemented. She highlighted the legal aspects of intellectual property and the importance of legally safeguarding new research and innovations.
Professor Bhagwati Prakash Sharma, Group President of Pacific Group of Institutions, stressed the need for alternative intellectual property strategies and legal protection for innovations beyond patents. He advocated for fostering innovation in the pharmacy sector to ensure new discoveries achieve commercial success even without patents.
During the awards ceremony, Professor Hemant Kothari presented prizes to the winners. He highlighted the challenges of non-patentable fields, stating that business methods, algorithms, and natural discoveries should also be protected. The conference included extensive discussions on global and ethical challenges in intellectual property, international perspectives, and the impact of biotechnology and AI on future technologies.
Dr. Rahul Taneja spoke about the role of intellectual property in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and biotechnology. He elaborated on how these technologies can drive innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
Dr. Amber Vyas discussed non-patentable innovations and their commercial significance in the pharmacy sector. He explained that while business methods, software algorithms, and natural discoveries may not always be patentable, they remain highly valuable.
Udaipur-based startup ChemRobotics, represented by Ritesh Agarwal, shared insights on identifying one's talent and leveraging IPR and patent technology to establish ChemRobotics among leading companies.
Experts at the closing ceremony reflected on the conference's achievements and key takeaways.
Ankit Paliwal expressed gratitude and noted that participants from various states across India attended, along with students from multiple pharmacy colleges in the Udaipur division.
The Dean of the Pharmacy Faculty extended thanks to all guests, experts, and participants, stating, "This conference has successfully established meaningful dialogue between researchers and industry experts. It will provide a new direction for innovation and intellectual property development in the field of pharmacy."