The Hackathon on GI and related TK & TCEs was jointly organized by the DPIIT IPR Chair of WBNUJS and Centre for DIKW Excellence: Advanced Data & IPR Research and Outreach Wing, WBNUS. It was also supported by the Department for Promotion of Industrial and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India. The Hackathon was aimed to initiate brainstorming exercises among Geographical Indication experts and academicians from different fields. The term ‘Hackathon’ was inspired by the computer sciences, where engineers gather to solve a specific problem. Hence, all the academic conferences of Hackathon were designed in such a manner that the outcome of each session could bring forth something that is advisable for policymakers and the authorities of IPRs. The highlights of each session especially the round table discussions of day one and day two among different stakeholders provided deeper insights about the issues and challenges pertaining to Indian GI framework. The recommendations from academic conferences and interactions with artisans are as follows:
- There was a proposal for streamlining GI application process by including online filing of GI applications to facilitate accessibility and inclusivity. Establishment of nodal GI offices or GI boards in each capital city of India.
- The policy suggestions for TK includes, signing of a Madrid Agreement, putting labels on all kinds of TK goods signifying authenticity, something similar to French and Australian certification of authenticity.
- The important highlights from the papers presented were suggesting collaboration among GI registry, DPIIT, MSME, and TKDL for holistic GI protection framework in India.
- The conversation with the artisans disclosed the fact that many of the people remains outside the clusters or the groups due to several social norms, several times the artisans remain uninformed about the fairs organized by the government bodies, though there are several government schemes for monetary assistance yet all schemes get stuck when it comes to banks’ demand of collaterals of equal or more amount. Hence, the Hackathon fostered constructive dialogue among stakeholders, leading to these comprehensive recommendations for reforming the GI law and policy framework.
On behalf of WBNUJS DPIIT IPR Chair, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the esteemed guests, participants, and contributors who made the Hackathon on Geographical Indications and TK & TCEs a resounding success. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, for their generous funding and unwavering support, which played a pivotal role in making this event possible. A special thanks to the Vice Chancellor for granting permission and extending wholehearted support towards organizing this event at WBNUJS. We are deeply grateful to all the officials and dignitaries from various academic fields that graced the event with their presence, sharing their expertise and insights. Heartfelt appreciation goes out to the artisans and producers who joined the GI Fair, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of West Bengal at our WBNUJS campus. We extend our sincere thanks to our colleagues at WBNUJS and the organizing team members and volunteers for their tireless efforts and meticulous planning, ensuring the smooth execution of every aspect of the event
