ICAR-CIFRI Marks World Intellectual Property Day 2026 with High-Impact IPR Workshop

Barrackpore, April, 2026 : The ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore, Kolkata, commemorated World Intellectual Property Day 2026 by organizing a high-impact workshop today. Conducted in hybrid mode, the programme brought together over 100 participants, including scientists, technical and administrative personnel of ICAR-CIFRI, as well as experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) from different places.

The workshop featured a lead lecture by Anjan Sen, Principal and Managing Patent Attorney, M/s Anjan Sen & Associates, Kolkata, on “IPR: Scope and Techno-Legal Dimensions.” He underscored the critical role of intellectual property rights in agriculture and allied sectors, highlighting the journey from ideation to patent filing. His address focused on key techno-legal considerations and the need for strengthening patent applications to ensure robustness and enforceability.

The session was chaired by Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, who also delivered the keynote address on “Leveraging IPR in R&D: From Ideas to Impact.” He highlighted innovation as a key driver of socio-economic progress, stressing its synergy with development and the crucial role of intellectual property in accelerating innovation to achieve the nation’s 2047 aspirations. Dr. Dey underscored that ICAR’s focus on Data Policy, MELIA, and Communication Strategy constitutes a synergistic triad driving a knowledge-based ecosystem that strengthens IP protection, commercialization, and the overall impact and visibility of agricultural research and extension, urging scientists to capitalize on this opportunity.

Earlier, Dr. Ganesh Chandra, PI & In-Charge, ITMU, welcomed the participants and highlighted ICAR-CIFRI’s achievements in securing patents, design registrations, copyrights, and trademarks. He stressed the growing importance of intellectual property management in inland fisheries research and its role in driving innovation-led growth.

The programme also witnessed insightful contributions from Heads of Division/Centres, including Dr. S.K. Samanta, Dr. R.K. Manna, Dr. S.K. Manna, Dr. A.K. Bera, Dr. A.U. Muzadaddi, and Dr. L.N. Murthy, who enriched the deliberations with their divisional perspectives.

A spirited Q&A session ensued, where participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the subject, with queries expertly addressed to satisfaction.

The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Arun Pandit, Principal Scientist and In-Charge, PME, who expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, and participants for their active engagement and contributions, making the event a meaningful step towards strengthening IPR awareness and innovation ecosystems in inland fisheries.