It is an accepted fact that creativity and innovation are crucial to sustainable growth, and that a well-developed, logically balanced system of intellectual property rights is central to spurring knowledge-based industries and provides fundamental foundation for promoting and achieving sustained creativity, innovation and economic performance. In the emerging liberalized global trading environments, IP works as capital that feeds the economy and improved deployment of IP portfolios through licensing and commercial exploitation is the cornerstone to harness human and technological resources to create a vibrant and competitive economy.

The 'Special Feature' in the present issue of WISTA: Intellectual property deals with European Commissions’ communication spelling out the blueprint for boosting creativity and innovation to provide economic growth, high quality employment opportunities and quality products and services in Europe.

As the global population grows gradually it will exert more pressure on expanding agricultural production capacity and intensify food as a national security issue. The challenge of securing world’s food supply demands concerted efforts for intensification of research to develop innovative agricultural solutions. The role of intellectual property in this respect cannot be over-emphasized in fostering innovation and facilitating technology transfer to meet the agricultural needs of the growing population.

The ‘Perspective’ covers the initiatives instituted by the ASEAN with regard to food security, agrifood trade and intellectual property.

The feature on ‘In Focus’ describes the main focus of the 10-year national patent development strategy of China, covering the period of 2011-2020 and relates the way China aims to use patents as a lever to spur its economic growth.

Other features covered include: Scan Around the Globe; Watch-Out IPR; Institution; Knowledge Spreads; and Expert Converge.

We welcome comments and suggestions.
Dr K V Swaminathan

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS TEAM
Mrs Lakshmi Swaminathan - Vice Chairman
Ms Rashmi Malhotra- Consultant
Dr Kishan Lal - Joint Director
Mr S S Kalra - Director