Current Science

Ankit Tripathi ¹, Tarakanta Jana ², Nupur Wadia ³, Deepak Bindal ³, Swarnil Dey ⁴

Affiliations
1 Centre for Health Informatics, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi 110 067, IN
2 Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 025, IN
3 Patent Informatics Division, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, 14 Satsang Vihar Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IN
4 Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, IN

Abstract

Computational biology is relatively a young branch of science, which has experienced tremendous growth in the last two decades. The seeds of this inter-discipline were sown at the end of the seventies, when computers became simpler to use, some biology laboratories decided to adopt them, mainly for storing and managing genomic data. As a result, there was quick completion of projects that would have otherwise taken several years. With a snowballing effect, genome sequencing projects generated large amounts of data whose management required more powerful computers. The advent of the internet has allowed all the research laboratories to share their data, and make them available worldwide through some new genomic and proteomic data banks, such as Gene-Bank, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Data Library and many more. A patent portfolio shows the state of the art of research and development in a specific discipline. Patenting an invention is still tough in many countries, especially when the major part of the claim invention involves mathematical formulae, algorithms and computer programs. These per se are not patentable in many countries; however, they can be protected under copyrights as literary works or trade secrets. It is well known that mathematical formulae, algorithms and computer programs mainly form the core of computational biology. Till date, no study has been made to measure inventive progress in this new inter-discipline. The study shows the research and invention have occurred in a wide range of interdisciplines, including functional genomics, molecular structure, sequence comparison, molecular simulations, machine learning, data visualization, database development and inventive activity confined to a handful of industrially developed and developing nations, of which majority are privately owned.

Keywords

Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Patent Analysis, Research Trends Inventions.

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Swarnil Dey ¹, Tarakanta Jana ²

Affiliations
1 Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, IN
2 CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, 14 Satsang Vihar Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IN

Abstract

The present article primarily analyses the patenting trends of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) since its formation. The social dimensions and technical prowess of ISRO are well known, but till date no work has been done in analysing its patent portfolio, to let the people be aware of its development, through the prism of patent analysis. This article reports ISRO's patenting activities over the past four decades and has mapped the areas in which patents have been granted. Further, it also discusses how ISRO can be part of the era of open innovation and use its inventions economically.

Keywords

ISRO, Open Innovation, Patent Analysis, Space Research.

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