New Delhi, Nov 3 (KNN) Eyeing at faclitating information and exploring the challenges fced by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with regard to the Intellectual Property Rights, the 3^rd Meeting of the Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre for MSMEs,was organised recently by the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) in the national capital.

The meeting was chaired by Vijay Kumar, Director MSME Development Centre, New Delhi.

Members present included Dr. P D Kaushik, Pro- Vice Chancellor, Tirthankar Mahavir University, Moradabad and Anil Bhardwaj Secretary General FISME.

The Committee discussed the challenges faced by MSMEs in  identifying  their intellectual properties and protecting them appropriately.

The I P facilitation centres were promoted by the  Ministry of MSME to create awareness among MSMEs about intellectual property rights, support them in protecting IPRs  and also study the IP protection scenario.

The IP facilitation Centre for MSMEs of Delhi  was promoted by FISME, the leading federation of Indian MSMEs.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Vijay Kumar mentioned that I P protection in MSMEs should not be taken in isolation but as a component of technology development initiatives.

He explained that  I P Rights develop from process and product innovation and the I P facilitation centres should handhold the MSMEs in developing the entire value chain from product / process designing to exploitation of the IPRs developed.

P D Kaushik, mentioned about the need for  developing linkage between the University students and  MSME clusters to  work on developing and protecting IPRs.

Earlier in his  welcome address Anil Bhardwaj traced the history of the I P Facilitation centre, Delhi and its contribution in protecting intellectual properties of MSMEs.

He particularly mentioned about the success of the centre in registering the first Geographical Indications IPR for  Meerut Scissors.

Other experts on MSME and Intellectual Properties focused on initiatives for I P audit, quality vetting of patent documentations etc. (KNN/DB)