The Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU) at ICAR-NISST, Mau, was established under the ICAR scheme “Intellectual Property Management and Transfer/Commercialization of Agricultural Technology” to facilitate innovation protection, manage intellectual property, and support the commercialization of technologies developed at the institute.

ITMU functions as the secretariat of the Institute Technology Management Committee (ITMC) and is responsible for managing patents, licensing technologies, facilitating MoUs, and overseeing all IP-related activities in line with ICAR’s IP and technology commercialization guidelines.

Key Functions of the ITMU:

• IP Protection and Management: The ITMU pursues all matters related to IP protection, maintenance, and transfer. This includes handling the patenting of institute technologies, copyright of publications, registration of new and extant plant varieties, and unique germplasm registration.
• Technology Commercialization: A major objective is the commercialization of technologies to ensure they reach end-users. This involves licensing technologies to public and private entities.
• Regulatory Compliance: The unit ensures that all regulatory compliances, such as approvals from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), are met during the commercialization process.
• Liaison and Support: The ITMU works in conjunction with Agrinnovate India Limited for licensing technologies that have a significant license fee. It also provides the secretariat for the Institute Technology Management Committee (ITMC).

Patents Granted to ICAR-NISST, Mau

• Three Way Matrix Sampler: Granted to ICAR with Patent No. 383826. Application No. 179/DEL/2014 was filed on April 21, 2014, and granted on December 7, 2021. Valid for 20 years from the filing date.
• Three Way Sampling Method for Assessing Genetic Purity of Parental Seeds of Hybrids: Patent No. 405040. Application No. 181/DEL/2014 filed on April 21, 2014, granted on August 29, 2022. Valid for 20 years from the filing date.
• Three Way Matrix Gun: Granted to ICAR with Patent No. 416123. Application No. 180/DEL/2014 filed on April 21, 2014, granted on December 30, 2022. Valid for 20 years.