xSubject: GS 3
Syllabus: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Questions
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are needed for a creative environment and innovative growth. Enumerating the need for IPR, discuss the achievements under the new IPR policy. Also, bring out a few shortcomings in it. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
- India needs a thriving start-up environment that promotes innovation and supplements and complements the country's space requirements. Elaborate. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model Structure
1. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are needed for a creative environment and innovative growth. Enumerating the need for IPR, discuss the achievements under the new IPR policy. Also, bring out a few shortcomings in it. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are creator rights which are given to them for their literary work, invention, artwork and any other thing which can be commercialised. They are valid for a certain period and give the creator exclusive right over their use.
Main Body
- These rights are backed by global instruments like Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Paris Convention, Berne Convention and domestic laws. IPR include areas like trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, trade secrets, industrial designs etc.
- IPR are needed because-
- They are an incentive to creators that helps foster an environment of creation and innovation.
- Helps in ease of doing business and research for furthering innovation prospects and helps build human capital, which is significant in the long run.
- Fosters economic growth by providing quality jobs, which in turn enhances quality of life. It results in improved industrial growth.
- Any innovative creation will have some cutting-edge technology or an idea that can be shared or commercialised for better trade prospects.
- New IPR policy was launched in 2016 to improve awareness, generation, commercialisation, administration and enforcement of IPR-related frameworks. This has been significant due to achievements such as
- Improved technical manpower in granting or approving applications has helped clear backlogs in applications, which has fostered an environment of innovation.
- There is an increase in IPR filings, especially patents by around 7% and trademarks by around 28% in the year 2018-19.
- Initiative to automatically issue electronically generated trademark and patent certificates has streamlined the process and made it hassle-free.
- Improved ranking in Global Innovation Index as India was 81st in 2015 and now has got 52nd rank in 2019’s GII.
- IPR awareness is one of the objectives of the 2016 IPR policy, which has been done very well in higher institutions and rural schools, and at the industry level.
- But India’s IPR has time and again been questioned in the WTO and WIPO due to issues like-
- India has often been on the United States Trade Representative's (USTR’s) ‘Priority Watch List’ for alleged violations of intellectual property rights.
- No scope for evergreening of patents under the Indian Patent Act. It means that a patent cannot be granted if the properties of a new invention don't differ significantly when compared to older products.
- Compulsory licensing is another clause that has upset foreign investors who want to bring new technology but are sceptical. It involves granting permission to companies by the government to use, manufacture or sell a patented invention without the owner’s consent.
- Lack of data exclusivity for foreign companies means there is potential for unfair commercial use of test data by the Indian government.
Conclusion
- Intellectual property is like the brain of a nation, which needs to be given a conducive environment and an enabling atmosphere to grow and advance further. Recent steps have been taken in this direction, and a few more things need to be done, keeping in mind the requirements of changing times.
2. India needs a thriving start-up environment that promotes innovation and supplements and complements the country's space requirements. Elaborate. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- India’s space programme is one of the most well-developed in the world and is driven by a state-owned agency—the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The current global space economy is estimated at US$360 billion, with India accounting for ~2% (US$7 billion).
Main Body
Need of a thriving start-up environment:
- Plugging the demand-supply gap: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s annual budget has crossed ₹10,000 crore and is growing steadily.
- However, the demand for these services is soaring worldwide and in India, with satellite data, imagery and space technology being used across most sectors.
- Moreover, ISRO would have to expand 10x the current level to meet this rising demand
- Opening up new domains: enhanced startup participation will be necessary to penetrate satellite-based services and ground-based system segments.
- Greater pool of resources: Startup participation will open a new pool of resources and talent. It will bring more funding and experience into space exploration activities.
- Human Capital: The growth of Startups in the sector can exploit the talent across the nation, contributing a lot to space exploration in India.
- Technological advancement: Commercialisation will also develop better technologies, which are important. It will allow the integration of many other technologies, like artificial intelligence, into space exploration activities.
- Commercial demand: There is a need to enhance internet connectivity for the masses, which is another demand pull factor for increased commercial interest in space.
- Asteroid mining is also another potential area that looks promising, with scope for monetisation and disrupting commodity markets.
- International trends and experience: Elon Musk’s “SpaceX” and its high-profile projects have highlighted the increasing significance of private players in the space sector.
- In India, despite the various strategic, security and regulatory constraints, a limited private ecosystem has evolved around the ISRO.
Challenges faced by the Space Startups that inhibit their growth:
- According to DataLabs by Inc42, currently, there are about 120 active Space startups in India, 64% of which have emerged in the last six years.
- However, despite remarkable growth in the global New Space market, which thrives on innovative startups for technology breakthroughs and business development, small companies in India have struggled to find their feet.
- Unavailability of funds: Unavailability of funds, be it access to non-dilutive funding to start building prototypes and demonstrate proofs-of-concept, or access to investment to sustain operations, has been a major pain point for most startups
- Difficult criteria: Difficult criteria for startups to bid in ISRO and DRDO contracts, as current perimeters — prior track record, profitability, security deposit, and performance bank guarantee — make it impossible for these companies to independently apply for such bids
- Lack of a domestic market: lack of a domestic market beyond ISRO. In most cases, startups have to sell only to ISRO and DRDO, or go abroad to get customers.
- Lack of institutional support: There are also issues like a lack of institutional support in the way of intellectual property, strategic partnerships, and hand-holding for the nascent industry.
- Access to specialised testing and manufacturing infrastructure, which is beyond the reach of startups, has further limited growth and innovation
- No legal framework: Some companies move out since there is currently no legal framework to allow Indian firms to operate their own Space assets from the country
Way forward:
- Enabling ecosystem: a culture of accelerators, incubators, Venture Capitalists and mentors that exists in cities like Bengaluru, which is where most New Space start-ups have mushroomed, is needed to give impetus to the startups.
- New Space law: A new Space law for India is needed that should aim at facilitating India's share of the global space economy to 10% within a decade, which requires a new kind of partnership between ISRO, the established private sector and the New Space entrepreneurs.
- Promoting innovation: Development of partial to fully reusable launchers, Progressive introduction of a new generation of launchers, Engines using LOX/ Methane propellants etc needs to be promoted to enhance India's standing at the global level.
- New Business models and Architecture: Space Startup policy should be drafted keeping in view the new Business models and Architecture, like Hybridisation of network – Combining MEO and GEO assets to form a unified network, which is dominating the global trend.
- R&D contracts and grants: Space companies need more R&D contracts and grants from government initiatives. There is also a need to ease criteria for startups to bid in ISRO and DRDO
Conclusion:
- The space sector can play a major catalytic role in the technological advancement and expansion of our Industrial base.
- Recent reforms in the sector, like the formation of IN-SPACe, have the potential to alter the course of the private Space industry, just as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has done to the telecom sector. There is a growing belief that with proper implementation, the recently announced reforms will take the game to a new level for Indian Space Startups.
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