Mangaluru: A two-day international conference on Intellectual Property Rights and Entrepreneurship was conducted between January 4 and 5 at St. Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, by the Departments of Commerce and Business Administration of the College in collaboration with Origiin IP Academy (OIPA), Bengaluru.
The inaugural ceremony at 9:30 AM in the college Conference Hall began with a prayer song followed by the lighting of lamp. The chief guest for the programme was Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director at Symbiosis Law School, Pune and the keynote speaker was Anupama Dias Abeyagunawardane, Senior Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property, MAS Holdings Group, Sri Lanka.
The Guest of Honor was Sr Dr. Maria Roopa A C, Joint Secretary of St. Agnes Institutions Mangaluru and its President Sr Dr. M. Jeswina A.C., Principal of St. Agnes College Mangaluru were present.
Mrs. Sabina D’Souza, Convenor and HoD of Business Administration welcomed and introduced the dignitaries to the gathering.
Chief Guest Dr.Shashikala Gurpur addressed the gathering on the importance of Intellectual Property Rights and how Intellectual Property Rights is a wealth creation. She also stressed on the fact that anyone can be an entrepreneur and that entrepreneurship can be innovative in itself. Sr. Dr. M Jeswina A.C. then presided over and addressed the audience and enlightened them on the objective of the conference.
Managing Director of Abhijnya Education Pvt. Ltd., Abhilash K, encouraged the college to set up an IP cell for budding entrepreneurs and he highlighted on how his institution provided assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs. The inaugural ceremony came to an end with Nimitha, HoD of Commerce proposing a vote of thanks.
The inaugural ceremony was compered by Sheryl Preethika, Dean of Commerce and Business Administration.
The conference then began with the technical sessions.
Session 1: Opening Remarks by Keynote Speaker
Opening the conference, Anupama Dias enlightened on who an entrepreneur is and how entrepreneurs take financial risks to make profits. She further stated that Intellectual Property Rights has been the buzzword in the entrepreneurial community around the world for many years and how Intellectual Property Rights are legally constructed to protect intangible assets.
Session 2: Patents to boost Innovation
The distinguished speaker for the session was Bindu Sharma (Registered Patent Agent), Founder and CEO of Origiin IP Solution LLP, Bengaluru. She spoke about how patents could boost innovations by revealing innovative facts and Intellectual Property and gave a thorough knowledge on what exactly a patent is. She made the fact clear that the three things an entrepreneur needs to remember are novel, problems that are going to arise and how to solve them.
Session 3: IP Perspective from a Doctorpreneur
Talented speaker Dr. Vishal Rao, Oncologist and CEO-Innaumation Medical Devices LLP, Bengaluru was the resource person for this session. He strongly believed that “our responsibility does not just lie with what we can do immediately at hand, but also to look at creating a change by looking at a distance, and that is what Intellectual Property is all about.” The message he conveyed was science should serve the present, future and the needy.
Session 4: Financial acumen for emerging entrepreneurs
Speaker Gaurav Kapoor, Head of Policy, New Delhi, ACCA, India spoke on how knowledge of finance is very much essential in being an entrepreneur. He gave a detailed description of business modules and spoke about how to capture and assess new sources of value. He revealed his secret on how learning more can help one to earn more.
The technical sessions came to an end followed by parallel track sessions in which the participants had to present their paper to the respective moderators. The day 1 conference came to end with the cultural programme.
Day two started with:
Session 5: Excellence in Entrepreneurship
The day began with a session by the speaker Dr. Richard Alexander, Founder, Sustainable World Project author, Young world leader programme, Netherlands. He stressed on the importance on having a focused mind and to exercise shifting mindset. Excellence in entrepreneurship is a reflection of one’s mindset and that excellence starts with relationship and friendship. The real power is being honest and genuine and to get committed with the things one wishes to do.
Session 6: Intellectual Property Rights: Implications on Innovations
Sapna Sunder, IP Strategist and Patent Agent, Managing Director of IP DOME strategy Advisors Pvt. Ltd Chennai, made a presentation in which she noted, “Intellectual Property promotes Innovation” and benefits the producers than the inventors. She highlighted the fact that investment in Intellectual Property is expensive but is very essential. Long term Intellectual Property strategies will win and sustaining technology fosters improvement and innovation.
Session 7: Intellectual Property Rights in Europe and Entrepreneurial challenge
This session was briefed by Dr. Amitabh Anand, Assistant Professor in SKEMA Business School, France. He gave detailed information about copyrights and patents. He even mentioned the importance on getting the domain name protected and how studying Intellectual Property Rights gives birth to numerous new career opportunities.
The valedictory programme was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Amitabh Anand, Assistant Professor in SKEMA Business School, France, Sr Dr. A.C., Vice Principal of St. Agnes College, Sabina D’Souza, HoD of Commerce, Nimitha, HoD of Commerce and Sheryl Preethika, Dean for Commerce and Business Administration. Two delegates Pearl and Raksha gave their feedback on the conference. Chief Guest Dr. Amitabh Anand addressed the gathering highlighting career opportunities in Intellectual Property Rights. The best paper awardee was given to both the staff as well as the students. The conference came to an end with Sheryl, Dean for Commerce and Business Administration proposing a vote of thanks to all the participants, moderators, presenters and the organisers for making the conference a successful event.
