Microsoft Launched IPR Chair at the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) in India
04 March 2014
Microsoft announced the establishment of the Intellectual Property rights chair at the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) in India on February 26, 2014.
The Microsoft Chair will focus on capacity creation, development of policy research and thought leadership in IPR laws in the country. It consists of one full-time professor, a research associate and an administrative secretariat along with an administrative assistant.
“As India continues its development into a knowledge economy, recognition of and respect for Intellectual Property law is critical. We are excited to set up a Chair for Intellectual Property at Gujarat National Law University and believe that it will help drive a significant amount of research in this area,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel at Microsoft, said in his message. “Our ultimate aim with this initiative is to foster continuous research, academic collaboration and capacity building in Intellectual Property laws and policies.”
Over the next five years, Microsoft and GNLU will develop suitable academic research projects; provide a framework for analyzing the impact of IPR Law and policy on development and growth of the Indian economy and disseminate knowledge and information on IPR Law and Policy through outreach programs in India. In the long run, this initiative also aims to help bridge the gap between university and industry on issues related to Intellectual Property Rights.
Professor Bimal Patel, director at Gujarat National Law University said: “We view this as an important and impactful initiative that will enable GNLU to promote teaching and research in Intellectual Property Rights.” He added that the availability of this funding will augment academic partnerships with the institutions of Governance, judiciary, economy and civil society, thereby enabling us to carry out quality applied legal and interdisciplinary research in various areas. “We expect that the creation of the Chair will help us become more competitive and attract the right talent for our academic projects.”
