Awareness Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights

Date: 28th-29th August 2002
Venue: Radisson Hotel, Pointe aux Piments

The key to the expansion of the global economy is the contribution of new knowledge as a crucial factor in sustained economic growth and development. Digital technology, the Internet, biotechnology, information technology and communication, as well as a host of other such developments play a critical role in what is termed 'the knowledge economy'.

In such an economy, incentives for the creation of new knowledge are largely provided through the mechanism of intellectual property rights (IPR). A proper balance between the protection of IPR over such knowledge and its rapid dissemination and assimilation in the productive enterprises is fundamental to the continued growth of the economy.

Following the meeting of the Bureau of the IXth Governing Council of the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T) in Mauritius (4 - 5 September 2001), the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) started preliminary discussions with the NAM S&T Centre, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India.

It was proposed that the MRC organises an "Awareness workshop on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Mauritius". For your information, a brief note initially sent by the DST on the 'Proposal to hold an Awareness Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights in Mauritius', is included. The objectives of this workshop, which will be conducted by a team of IPR experts from the DST on the 28th - 29th August 2002, will be to:

• sensitise people in Mauritius to IPR issues, and
• provide an opportunity to address specialist IPR areas that are directly relevant to Mauritius.

The IPR team will be composed of the following members:

• Dr R Saha Adviser and Head, Patent Facilitation Centre (Team leader)
• Dr C R Murty Director, International Division, Department of Science & Technology
• Dr P Ganguli Patent Attorney
• Dr H Subramaniam Patent Attorney

Preparation for the workshop

Some background work regarding the above workshop has already been conducted by the IPR Steering Committee set up by the Council, through consultations with the major stakeholders involved in this area. Issues that are of direct relevance to Mauritius have been discussed and identified during the course of two meetings of the Steering Committee. Discussions included consideration of the IPR status, both at a local level and in relation to global changes, the importance of protecting national research output, as well as natural resources, and protection issues relating to cyberspace.

These issues have been forwarded to the team of IPR experts to assist them in their preparation for this workshop, especially in relation to matters relevant to Mauritius. Preparations are now being finalised for this workshop. Against this background, it has been proposed that the team of IPR experts will be in Mauritius one day before the workshop, and one day post-workshop to enable discussions and provide a suitable platform for an effective exchange of ideas.

Workshop Report (pdf version - 1.39MB)

Booklet: Basics of Intellectual Property Rights (pdf version - 138 KB)