What happened

NRDC and NCISM signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on innovation, intellectual property (IP) management, technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes in the Indian System of Medicine. The MoU was exchanged between NRDC Chairman & Managing Director Cmde. Amit Rastogi (Retd.) and NCISM Chairperson Dr. Maneesha Kothekar, in the presence of the President of the Board of Ayurveda (BOA) and the President of the Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa (BUSSR), along with other senior officials of NRDC and NCISM.

Background and earlier position

NCISM functions as a statutory body under the Ministry of Ayush, and regulates aspects of the Indian System of Medicine. Within this regulatory ecosystem, research, innovation and entrepreneurship development initiatives can exist across NCISM-regulated institutions, including Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (RIED) Cells, and among registered practitioners.

What changed now

The NRDC–NCISM MoU operationalises collaboration around IP-first innovation pathways. NRDC is positioned to provide capabilities such as IP protection facilitation, patent and trademark support, technology assessment and valuation, licensing and technology transfer, and industry linkage for commercialization. NCISM is positioned to facilitate coordination between NRDC and NCISM-regulated institutions, RIED Cells and registered practitioners, with institution-specific engagements handled directly by NRDC and the respective institution or innovator.

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