Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISCs)

Subject – Science and Tech

Context – DPIIT invites varsities, R&D bodies to set up tech centres

Concept –

Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs), whose establishment and development is supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), are designed to provide innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality services related to technology information.
The aim of TISCs is to help innovators in developing countries to exploit their potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.
WIPO cooperates with its national and regional partners in over 40 countries to establish and develop TISCs. To date, over 320 TISCs have been established worldwide, responding to over 190,000 enquiries annually.

TISC Network in India

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have signed an agreement to establish Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC).
The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal point for the TISC national network.
As the national focal point, CIPAM will identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC project.
CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network.

Till date, the following 10 TISCs have been established in India:

PCSCT Punjab State Council for Science & Technology, Punjab
Anna University, Chennai
Gujarat Council of Science and Technology, Gujarat
National Research Development Corporation, Andhra Pradesh
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Kerala
Patent Information Centre, Rajasthan State Council for Science, Technology, Rajasthan
Karnataka State Council for Science & Technology, Karnataka
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Telangana
Central Tool Room and Training Centre, Odisha
Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI)
Gujarat Technological University, Gujarat.

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

WIPO is one of the oldest specialised agencies of United Nations.
WIPO was created in 1967 “to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world”.
WIPO currently administers 26 international treaties.
It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Every year World Intellectual Property Day is being celebrated on 26th April.
WIPO currently has 191 member states. India joined WIPO in 1975.
- All member states of the UN are entitled, though not obliged, to become members of the specialized agencies like WIPO.