Training Programme for Women Scientists

The second orientation programme for women scientists training in matters related to intellectual property rights was flagged off by the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) on January 9, 2006 at the Vishawakarma Bhavan, Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi. Thirty women scientists in different areas of science and technology, selected through an all India competition and rigorous interview will be trained for one year by the Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC) through a mixed mode of on the job training and special training programme. The on job training will be provided by agencies practicing IPR including law firms handling patents. The scheme started two years back and the women scientists trained in the first batch are gainfully employed with different agencies including law firms, multinational companies etc. after receiving the training. Some of the law firms are Anand and Anand, Corporate Law Group, Lall Lahiri and Salhotra and the other agencies are ICMR, e Value Serve, Du Pont and PFC.

DST embarked upon the scheme of scholarship for women scientists with a long term view to bring back highly qualified women in science and technology to mainstream science and technology who had to leave this area due to social, family and domestic reasons. Through this scheme the Government would like to utilize the unused human potential in science and technology in the country. Scholarships are also awarded for carrying out research in different areas of science. The programme of training in IPR has some distinct advantages that women could work from their houses and be self employed. Outsourcing in areas of patent searches, preparing technology scan reports, forecasting report, identifying new areas of investment etc. is expected to be a blue chip area in the coming days and this trained workforce would be then there to make the best use of opportunities in addition to traditional work they would be doing.

The training programme is very extensive and the candidates are being lectured and trained by about 35 experts from India, Germany, USA and UK. The candidates have to be either post graduate in sciences, bachelor engineering or equivalent, masters degree holder in engineering, technology, pharmacy or Ph. D in any stream. Candidates having Ph.D or M.Tech or M Pharma get a scholarship of Rs. 15000/- per month and others Rs. 10000/- per month. The juicy part of the inauguration was the announcement by the Secretary, DST that candidates who clear the examination for Patent Agents conducted by the Indian Patent Office will get an award of Rs. 10000/-. This scheme is being implemented by the PFC which has been responsible for creating countrywide awareness in IPR through workshops, training, publications, reports and patent database.

Source : Ministry of Science & Technology
Date : January 13, 2006