Microsoft India expands ipr scholarship programme

Sreerupa Mitra, Bangalore
Financial Chronicle
To encourage research and specialisation in the area of intellectual property laws, Microsoft India has expanded its Intellectual Property Scholars Programme by signing memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with 13 national law schools across India including NALSAR, National Law School, Bangalore, The WB National University of Juridical Sciences. Kolkata, Indian Law School, Pune and Symbiosis Law School, Pune.

“As India integrates itself within the knowledge-based economy, and creative output takes a surge, innovators also require the assurance that their intellectual products are adequately safeguarded. This requires legal practitioners and it was keeping this vision in mind that we undertook the pilot project of a scholarship programme in the premiere law institutes around the country,” said Rakesh Bakshi, associate general counsel, Microsoft India.

The programme, which started in 2006, plans to build an eco-system of learners who would play a defining role in the way IPR shapes up the Indian economy.

In the past three years, 64 meritorious students have been awarded the Microsoft Scholarship. The company has made a total grant of Rs 61.28 lakh towards the programme so far.