Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) held a training workshop on intellectual property rights (IPR) on Tuesday.
The workshop focuses on protecting research-based innovations, ensuring proper intellectual property management and strengthening the capacity of researchers and relevant personnel to commercialise agricultural technologies, reads a press release.
It was organised by the university’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) with funding from the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project, began at 11am at the seminar room of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.
GAU Vice-Chancellor GKM Mustafizur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest, while HEAT Sub-Project Manager (SPM) and university Treasurer Md Safiul Islam Afrad chaired the session.
University Proctor Mohammad Saiful Alam, along with project-associated teachers and officials, was also present.
Farhana Yeasmin, director of the university’s Outreach Centre and professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, delivered the welcome address.
The vice-chancellor formally inaugurated the workshop.
In his speech, the vice-chancellor stressed the need to protect researchers’ intellectual contributions while ensuring confidentiality and effective technology transfer.
He said appropriate measures had been taken to secure patents for varieties and technologies developed by GAU, noting that patent protection was essential for their wider recognition and acceptance at both national and international levels. He also highlighted government initiatives to simplify the patenting process.
Following the vice-chancellor’s address, Safiul presented an overview of the HEAT Project, outlining its objectives, activities and progress.
The training was conducted by Md Habibur Rahman, deputy director of the Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (DPDT); Foyez Ahmed Prodhan, Assistant Sub-Project Manager (ASPM); and Muhammad Ziaul Haque.
Participants from the Faculties of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Environment, and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science attended the workshop.
The sessions covered the fundamentals of intellectual property rights, agricultural innovation, research confidentiality, ethical data use, research material management, germplasm transfer, Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), and laboratory and field research protocols.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks from the chair, reaffirming GAU’s commitment to fostering a research environment where innovation is protected and translated into practical benefits.
