The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have signed a Joint Letter of Intent (JLoI) to develop programs fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property (IP) in countries of the Global South. The signing ceremony took place at NITI Aayog and was attended by high-level delegates from both organizations.
Dharmendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, highlighted the significance of the partnership. ‘India’s innovation ecosystem is going global. This pathbreaking collaboration will take the best of India’s innovation models to countries on similar development trajectories, enhancing understanding and awareness about IPR from the school level and unlocking the innovation potential worldwide.’
Sherif Saadallah, Executive Director of WIPO Academy, emphasized the crucial role of intellectual property in driving innovation and creativity. ‘IP is a powerful catalyst for innovation and creativity, essential for youth development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Our partnership with AIM demonstrates WIPO’s commitment to ensuring youth participation in innovation, fostering a more innovative and creative global economy.’
The collaboration follows a visit by Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, to the AIM ecosystem last year. His observations on AIM’s initiatives, such as Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centers (AIC), prompted the invitation of Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of AIM, to showcase these models at WIPO headquarters in Geneva earlier this year. Today’s agreement stems from these discussions.
Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, expressed pride in WIPO’s recognition of India’s entrepreneurship development model. ‘This deepens an already productive relationship between NITI Aayog and WIPO, enhancing national competitiveness.’
India’s steady growth in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and patent filings underscores its progress in innovation. As per the GII 2023 report, India retained the 40th position out of 132 economies. The WIPO Report 2022 noted India’s significant growth in patent filings, with a 31.6% increase, primarily driven by resident filings.
Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog, highlighted India’s entrepreneurial strides. ‘This partnership positions India as a global leader in innovation, attracting international investments and fostering a culture of IP-led innovation.’
Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of AIM, expressed hope that the AIM-WIPO partnership would benefit many nations by building robust innovation ecosystems. ‘This collaboration brings together Innovation & Entrepreneurship with Intellectual Property in a significant way.’
