Abstract

      National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP) is an animal science research institute functioning under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Intellectual Property Management System (IPMS) of the institute performs functions of technology creation, protection and transfer/commercialization. The study carried out an in-depth participatory analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) pertaining to the system. A comprehensive SWOT repository was developed based on documentary evidences and inputs from multiple stakeholders. Repository as further rated by scientists to reveal the top ten key SWOT factors. Quantitative SWOT matrix technique was employed to ascertain the finest strategies to promote and develop the IPMS further. Strategies were derived from the best combinations of key strengths and opportunities (S-O strategies), key strengths and threats (S-T strategies), key weaknesses and opportunities (W-O strategies) and key weaknesses and threats (W-T strategies). Key strengths included ‘State of the art laboratory facilities’, ‘Efficient monitoring of research progress under research committees’ and ‘Subject matter competence and active participation of scientists in various scientific forums, while, ‘Limited number of innovative and commercially viable technologies’ and ‘Dearth of technical staff for research and commerce experts for technology marketing’ were the key weaknesses. Top ranked opportunities included ‘Scope for utilization of agro- industrial by-products and wastes as animal feed ingredients’, ‘External research funds’, ‘Research in consortia mode’ and ‘Scope of feed
formulation software’. The main threats were ‘Red tape delay for final approval of entrepreneurial projects’, ‘Reducing feed resource base for livestock’, ‘Safety issues and vested interests in animal feed market’ and ‘Undue delay in patent grant’. Key strengths of the system such as state-of-theart laboratory facilities and subject matter competence of scientists could be utilized effectively to make use of the opportunities tendered by agro- industrial by-products and wastes in animal feed manufacture (S-O strategies). Dearth of marketable technologies could be overcome through research-farmer-industry interface for technology up-scaling (W-O strategies). The threat posed by reducing feed resource base could be addressed through alternative technologies (S-T strategies). Limitations arising from the combination of dearth of innovative technologies and reducing feed resource base deserve special attention (W-T strategies).

Keywords : Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Intellectual Property Rights, National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, SWOT Analysis