BUET, GPH Ispat hold workshop on intellectual property management

A day-long workshop on 'Intellectual Property Management' was jointly organised by the Research and Innovation Centre for Science and Engineering (RISE), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and GPH Ispat Ltd at the RISE Seminar Hall in BUET's Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) building.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness among students, researchers, and industry professionals about the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) in innovation, research, and technology development, while strengthening industry–academia collaboration in Bangladesh.

Professor Dr A S M A Haseeb, Head of the Department of Nanomaterials and Ceramics Engineering at BUET, attended the event as chief guest. Other attendees included Sharmin Sultan, Chief People Officer of GPH Ispat Ltd, and Brig Gen Md Towhid Hossain (Retd), Defence and Large Corporate Business Development Advisor of GPH Ispat. Faculty members and students from BUET, BRAC University, the Islamic University of Technology (IUT), and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology participated in the workshop, which was presided over by Professor Dr Mohammad Shariful Islam, Director of RISE.

The day-long event featured three sessions. The first, titled 'Managing Intellectual Property: The Role of the State and Organisation in Innovation', was conducted by Professor Dr Mohidus Samad Khan, Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Institute of Appropriate Technology (IAT) at BUET. He stressed the need to strengthen IP rights to make innovation and research sustainable in Bangladesh.

In the second session, Barrister Shaleh Akram Somrat, a Supreme Court lawyer, presented 'Practical Insight on IP Infringement and Protection in Bangladesh'. Drawing on real case studies, he highlighted the legal challenges innovators face and the need for collaboration between researchers, lawyers, and industry to safeguard intellectual property.

The final session, 'Strengthening the IP Policy and Commercialisation Ecosystem in Bangladesh: The Role of Patents in Driving Innovation', was led by Mirza Golam Sarwar, Deputy Director of the Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks under the Ministry of Industries. He discussed patent processes, the economic potential of innovation, and measures to enhance Bangladesh's IP ecosystem.

Speaking at the closing session, Professor Dr A S M A Haseeb said, "The true value of innovation and research is realised only when its intellectual property is properly protected. Collaboration between academia and industry can play an important role in this regard. BUET always welcomes initiatives that accelerate the country's technology-based progress."

Sharmin Sultan, Chief People Officer of GPH Ispat Ltd, added, "Connecting industry with academia is essential to expanding the scope of research and innovation in Bangladesh. This workshop will help young researchers understand the importance and practical application of intellectual property, which will elevate the country's industrial innovation in the future."

Organisers announced that BUET and GPH Ispat will undertake more joint initiatives in research, innovation, and technology development, enabling university students to work directly on real-world industry challenges. The workshop opened new avenues of dialogue and cooperation between academia and industry on intellectual property management, a step expected to enhance Bangladesh's national innovation capacity.