New Delhi, (IANS) : The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on Thursday said it had signed an agreement to establish India’s first Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) in Punjab.

“The DIPP signed the institutional agreement with Punjab State Council of Science and Technology to establish the TISC at Patent Information Centre, Punjab, under the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) TISC programme,” an official statement said here.

The TISC aims to stimulate a dynamic, vibrant, and balanced Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and innovation, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural development by establishing a network of TISCs in India.

Over 500 TISCs operate worldwide and establishing a TISC in India will give the host institutions access to the global network.

WIPO’s TISC programme provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high-quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect and manage their IPRs.

Services offered by TISCs include access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications, assistance in searching and retrieving technology information, training in database search, on-demand searches (novelty, state of the art and infringement), monitoring technology and competitors, basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy and technology commercialisation and marketing.

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal Point for the TISC national network. As the national focal point, CIPAM shall identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC programme.

CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network.

“In coming years, CIPAM plans to establish TISCs in universities, state science councils and research and development institutions. TISC will give an impetus to knowledge sharing, sharing of best practices among the TISCs, capacity building, generation and commercialisation of IPs,” it said.