Latest news with #MotherTeresaWomen'sUniversity
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
836 IPR applications filed in Tamil Nadu in the past year
Seven Patent Information Centres (PIC) attached to educational institutions in the State were recognised by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) on Tuesday for their role in intellectual property filings, steps taken to raise IPR awareness and technology transfers performed. The IPR cells in Periyar University, Salem; Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai; Nehru Group of Institutions, Coimbatore; K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode; and Madurai Kamaraj University were honoured by the Council at the annual review of the IPR cells. Giving details, Dr. S. Vincent, Member-Secretary, TNSCST, said that between the last review and this, a total of 863 IPR applications were filed in the State which was an indicator that technology development process in the State was progressing well, and the ecosystem supported conversion of knowledge to process and product. Pointing at a specific case, Dr. Vincent said that one filing pertained to a semi-conductor integrated circuit (IC) layout design which was filed by Dr. E. Dhiravidachelvi, an IPR cell coordinator from Mohamed Sathak Engineering College, Kilakarai. It was a sub-module of a larger architecture of a chip being developed to detect retinal diseases like cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy with funding from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technolgy. The State had done well in the sphere of technology transfer as well, with the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) transferring at least five products (vaccines, kits and sprays) for commercial production, he added. Five applications have also been filed at different IPR cells for Geographical Indication (GI) registration. They are the Vandavasi Korai Paai (mat woven with split culm of a grass) filed at the IPR cell in Mother Teresa Women's University, Kollimalai palappazham (jackfruit) and Kollimalai coffee at the K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Pollachi Thennai Naar (coconut coir) at the Nehru Group of Institutions and the Mugavai Kuliyadichan Sivappu Arisi (reddish brown rice variety) at the Mohamed Sathak Engineering College, Kilakarai. Dr. A. Raja, Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs, Patent Office, Chennai, said that there has been a significant improvement in the filing of IPR applications since last year.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
How IPR applications by Mother Teresa varsity faculty are helping Kodaikanal tribespeople
Deep inside Palani Hills in Kodaikanal taluk live a group of tribespeople who could have a livelihood boost due to a bunch of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) applications filed by a faculty member of Mother Teresa Women's University. A. Usha Raja Nanthini, Professor and Head, Biotechnology Department, has filed 150 separate applications under industrial design for jewellery made with naturally-occurring seeds. The project, funded by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), aims to train the tribespeople in jewellery-making and help them market their products through a website. Five tribal women have come together to establish a company, Tulir, and registered it as a micro, small and medium enterprise. The website is being designed and will sell honey, nutmeg, lichens, benzoin resin (sambrani), and myrobalan (kadukkai), besides jewellery. Ms. Usha said, 'They live in 15-20 hamlets spread over Palani Hills and their population according to the 2011 Census was around 6,000. The children rarely go to school and they live a simple life collecting non-timber forest produce.' While being on a project to analyse different species of eucalyptus for anti-fungal properties, Ms. Usha and her team came across this habitation. Seeds of eucalyptus, adenanthera, coix and corymbia found in the area were colourful and tough, and they came in various sizes and shapes. 'An idea sparked: if we designed jewellery and taught them how to make them, they could sell the products for a living.' A few prototypes of the jewellery designs were submitted to the TNSCST in August 2023 and the Council approved the project in January 2024. Then began the tough task of bringing the villagers together. 'They were shy and would not entertain outsiders. So, we went through the tribal headman who helped us getting a few people,' Ms. Usha elaborated. The training for the villagers began in January, and she filed the IPR applications through the IPR cell set up by the Council at the university in March. 'The idea of setting up these cells is to protect our intellectual property and use them for the benefit of the people,' said S. Vincent, Member Secretary, TNSCST. The council has already set up 40 such cells. Fifty villagers from Pethuparai Bharathi Annanagar and Pallangi-Kombai hamlets have been trained in jewellery-making, Ms. Usha said. As an aside, members of a women's self help group from Vadakounji and Vadajaraparai were trained in apiculture (beekeeping), in collaboration with sisters from Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI). The people living in these hamlets largely belonged to the Pazhiyar and Puliyar tribes and have been eking out a living, collecting lichens, soap nuts, gooseberry, honey and other non-timber forest produce and selling them to intermediaries for a pittance, Ms. Usha said. 'The place is so remote that the nearest bus stop is 29 kilometres away. Very few have studied till high school,' she added.
