There is a need for at least 2,000 trained technology managers in both the private and public sector to meet the demand of technology transfer, and protection of intellectual property.

In the public sector, with over a 100 national institutes involved in research and development, the immediate need is for 500, said K Vijayaraghavan, Honorary President of the Society for Technology Management (STEM).

Speaking to BusinessLine ahead of the 10th annual summit of technology transfer professionals, Vijayaraghavan said that in the private sector too, there was increased focus on innovation in sectors like pharma, seeds, chemical, biotechnology, IT, etc. There are at present six innovation hubs – Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Faridabad, Pune and in Kerala. There are an estimated 500 ventures going on in these centres.

He estimated that nearly 1,500 technology managers are required to help them.

Summit in Hyderabad The two-day summit of STEM, in Hyderabad from November 26, will support these professionals in their endeavour to accelerate commercialisation of innovation.

Vijayaraghavan, founder-Director and Chairman of Sathguru Management Consultants, said there has been growth in this field since the amendment to the Indian Patents Act in 2005, which allowed product patents. India has become a major recipient of technology through licensing, as some IPR protection is provided. Similarly, the country is emerging as an exporter of technology. In the field of patent filing, India ranks 6th.

In the public sector, a vast network of laboratories under the Departments of Defence, Atomic Energy, Biotechnology and Scientific and Industrial Research are involved in technology development.

The Department of Biotechnology decided to pump in ₹500 crore into a Regional Centre for Biotech, with focus on life sciences in Faridabad.

The decision of the Centre to create a huge fund for start-ups is bound to trigger developments.

somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

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