Proposals for a traditional knowledge docketing system (TKDS) and a mission-mode intellectual property rights (IPR) initiative and facilitation of ‘IP commercialisation’ in Kerala are among the highlights of the draft Kerala IPR Policy, 2026, which is now out for public feedback.
The policy is being revised after 18 years. While the 2008 IPR policy sought to lay a “foundational vision” for democratising innovation and safeguarding community-held knowledge, the revision attempts to build on this legacy, responding to the shifts in global trade, digital transformation and biodiversity governance, according to the draft prepared by a panel chaired by N. Anil Kumar, Chairperson, Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB).
Given the richness of Kerala’s diverse traditional knowledge systems, the policy recommends the establishment of theTKDS. The TKDS is intended as a ‘facilitative repository’ and a ‘specialised, community-centric log’ that complements the people’s biodiversity registers (PBR). It would enable the docketing and recognition of community-owned traditional knowledge and traditionally protected plant and animal genetic resources, according to the draft.
Facilitative repository
The proposed TKDS would have details such as the location of the knowledge, the custodian community, the nature and type of knowledge, and relevant community protocols. It is intended as a ‘facilitative repository’ to aid identification and support recognition processes, without prejudicing community rights or triggering unintended claims. “This initiative has to be undertaken with the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and active involvement of the communities,” R.S. Praveen Raj, senior principal scientist, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, one of the committee members, said.
‘IPR commercialisation,’ one of the six policy objectives listed in the draft, seeks to facilitate innovation-driven entrepreneurship through IP licensing, incubators, spin-offs and equitable benefit-sharing models.
Dr. Anil Kumar told The Hindu that the six-member drafting panel had kept in mind the ‘Triple E’ – education, employment and enterprise, and the State’s aspirations to evolve as a ‘knowledge economy.’ The draft noted that revision has been necessitated by an evolving innovation environment, shifting research and development priorities, public health challenges, growth of micro, small and medium enterprises, trade agreements and the increasing need to commercialise technologies.
Other policy objectives include IPR awareness and IPR generation and utilisation, its administration and management and transparent financial mechanisms. The draft proposes a ‘Mission-IPR’ approach to promote IPR, enhance the State’s IP output and to strengthen IP governance, licensing, disclosure agreements and research collaborations.
Virtual IPR Academy
Among other things, the draft policy has suggested the establishment of a Virtual IPR Academy under the Intellectual Property Rights Information Centre – Kerala (IPRIC-K) and the eventual transformation of IPRIC-K into the Kerala State Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre (KSIPRCC). The KSIPRCC will serve as the nodal agency for policy implementation. The draft proposes the establishment of IPR cells and IP management committees in universities and government departments to embed IP governance within institutional ecosystems.
Other members of the drafting committee include A. Sabu, member secretary, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE); K.C. Sunny, retired Professor, Central University of Kerala; Narendran Thiruthy, Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; and Binuja Thomas, senior principal scientist, KSCSTE, and nodal officer, IPRIC-K. Feedback on the draft, which is available on the KSCSTE website kscste.kerala.gov.in, will be accepted up to February 23.
