| 22nd Kerala Science Congress was held at Kerala | | | | creativity and innovation, recent years have |
| Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, Thrissur. | | | | witnessed gross misuse of the IPR legislations by the |
| The organisers chose "IPR and Development - A | | | | greedy multinational companies. |
| National Perspective" as the focal theme for this | | | | India’s future is very much dependent on its |
| year's Science Congress. It was in fact a brave | | | | human resources and their potential to innovate in |
| decision that the organisers of a science congress | | | | the field of Science & Technology. However a larger |
| opted IPR as their main theme. The organisers also | | | | cross-section of our students, teachers and scientists |
| published a compendium of invited papers on IPR. | | | | are yet to be made fully aware of the necessity of |
| The compendium includes a thought-provoking note | | | | harnessing the IPR system to their best advantage. |
| from Kerala Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri. V.S. | | | | It is in this context that the Government considers |
| Achuthanandan. Let me post below the message of | | | | the inclusion of IPR as a compulsory subject in the |
| Kerala Chief Minister. | | | | curriculum of Higher Education. |
| I’m extremely happy to note that the Kerala | | | | The Government intends to make Kerala |
| Council for Science, Technology & Environment has | | | | state “IP savvy” by imparting adequate IPR |
| rightly chosen Intellectual Property Rights and | | | | awareness to different layers of the society. We |
| Development as the focal theme for 22nd Kerala | | | | are totally against creation of monopoly on |
| Science Congress. It is high time that the Kerala | | | | Knowledge. That is why the IPR Policy of Kerala |
| science community debated the pros and cons of | | | | 2008 reiterates the government commitment to |
| establishing a strong IPR Regime that has been | | | | prevent private appropriation of the traditional |
| imposed on us by the powerful globalisation lobby. | | | | knowledge. |
| While Intellectual Property Rights serve as catalyst | | | | I congratulate the organisers and wish every success |
| for development and recognizes and values | | | | to the Kerala Science Congress 2010. |