FICCI-WIPO sign MoU to strengthen India's Intellectual Property Ecosystem

Apr 04, 2025

NEW DELHI, 04 April 2025: FICCI and the WIPO yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fortifying India's intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. This strategic collaboration seeks to enhance awareness, enforcement, and commercialization of IP, with a particular focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups.

 

The MoU was signed by Mr Marco Alemán, Assistant Director General of WIPO, and Ms Leena Jaisani, Deputy Secretary General of FICCI. During the event, Mr David Simmons, Counsellor, Division for Asia and the Pacific, Regional and National Development Sector, WIPO; Mr Carsten Fink, Chief Economist, WIPO; Ms Sarah Nassar, Associate Program Officer, IP for Business Division, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, WIPO were present.

 

The delegation from FICCI included Mr Anil Rajput, Chair, FICCI IPR Committee & President, Corporate Affairs, ITC; Mr Narender Sabharwal, Former Deputy Director General, WIPO & Advisor, FICCI IPR Committee; Dr Rajeev Ranjan, Former Secretary & Think Tank Member, FICCI IPR Committee; Mr Suvashis Choudhary, Former IPS Officer & Think Tank Member, FICCI IPR Committee; Mr Sandeep Bhatnagar, Former Member, Customs, CBIC & Think Tank Member, FICCI IPR Committee.

 

India's ascent as a global innovation hub necessitates a strong and dynamic IP ecosystem. This partnership between FICCI and WIPO aims to equip businesses with essential tools for leveraging IP effectively, thereby fostering sustainable growth and enhancing global competitiveness. A pivotal initiative under this collaboration is the establishment of the FICCI-WIPO IP for Business Center in India. This center will provide structured training, strategic advisory services, and direct access to WIPO's global IP resources, empowering enterprises to safeguard, commercialize, and monetize their intellectual property assets.

 

The MoU also underscores the significance of capacity-building initiatives, with FICCI and WIPO jointly organizing nationwide training programs tailored for startups, MSMEs, and enforcement agencies. These initiatives will encompass seminars, certification courses, and industry-focused knowledge-sharing sessions, equipping businesses with the requisite expertise to optimize the economic value of their intellectual property.

 

Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI IPR Committee and President, Corporate Affairs, ITC in his opening remarks said, “The WIPO-FICCI partnership marks a landmark initiative in India’s intellectual property landscape. By combining WIPO’s global expertise with FICCI’s deep industry engagement, we could drive a paradigm shift—one where intellectual property is not just safeguarded but actively leveraged as a strategic asset for business growth, economic expansion, and global competitiveness. Through this collaboration, we can pave the way for a future where Indian enterprises thrive in an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy.”

 

Mr Marco Alemán, Assistant Director General, WIPO while highlighting the strategic importance of the MoU said, "By integrating WIPO's global expertise with FICCI's extensive industry engagement, we aim to drive a paradigm shift where intellectual property is perceived not merely as a compliance obligation but as a strategic asset for business growth."

 

This partnership is poised to create an environment conducive to fostering an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy in India. The immediate next steps in the collaboration include finalizing operational frameworks for the IP for Business Center, identifying key industry sectors for targeted IP support, and initiating the first phase of training and advisory services.

 

The MoU marks a significant milestone in India's intellectual property landscape, reinforcing the shared vision of FICCI and WIPO in advancing a comprehensive and equitable international IP framework that meets evolving societal and economic needs.