Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) has organised a training workshop on intellectual property (IP) policy development and management, focusing on safeguarding research innovations, ensuring due recognition of inventors and promoting the effective utilisation and commercialisation of university-generated technologies.
Organised by the university’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) with funding from the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project, the workshop was held at 11 am on Wednesday at the University’s old auditorium. GAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr GKM Mustafizur Rahman attended the workshop as the chief guest.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor prof. Dr. Md. Jahedur Rahman attended the workshop as special guest, while Professor Dr Md Safiul Islam Afrad, HEAT Project Sub-Project Manager (SPM) and university Treasurer, chaired the session. Professor Dr Farhana Yeasmin, Director of the university’s Outreach Centre and Professor of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, delivered the welcome address at the inaugural session. Deans, directors and senior professors and Proctor prof. Dr. Mohammad Saiful Alam of the university were also present. During the workshop, Professor Dr Md Safiul Islam Afrad and Md Habibur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), delivered presentations on the objectives, activities and progress of the HEAT Project, along with key aspects of IP policy development, legal protection of intellectual property, ownership of innovations and technology transfer. An open question-and-answer session followed the presentations, with the Vice-Chancellor moderating the discussion. Participants exchanged views on the importance of an institutional IP policy, researchers’ rights, ownership of innovations and the practical application of research findings. Addressing the workshop, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr GKM Mustafizur Rahman said, “The true value of university research lies not merely in generating new knowledge, but also in protecting it, recognising the contributions of its creators and putting it to work for the benefit of society.
Our researchers are developing promising technologies and innovations, and a well-structured institutional IP policy is essential to safeguard these achievements. Such a framework will encourage innovation, enhance the value of university research and help translate new technologies into practical solutions to the challenges facing agriculture and farmers.’’
