A large number of women in India are highly qualified in science. Many of them are not able to pursue career in science due to domestic and social reasons. India cannot afford to miss out the skills and talent of such highly educated women. If she aspires to remain competitive in the knowledge society, S&T as a development indicator cannot be identified only with laboratory research. Many lateral and vertical issues need to be addressed for it to become truly a development indicator. The WISE-IPR (erstwhile Women Scientists Scheme (WOS-C) has been evolved by the Government of India, Department of Science & Technology (DST) for providing opportunities to women scientists who desire to get trained in the area of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). WISE-IPR aims to train women having qualifications in science/ engineering / medicine or allied areas in the area of IPR and their management for a period of one year. The training will allow them to work from their homes and thus maintain a good balance between professional and domestic demands. The scheme is being implemented by Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC) of Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC) on behalf of DST.

About 850 women have already been trained under this scheme, out of which about 380 have cleared the Patent Agent Examination conducted by the Patent Office of India. Sixty percent of these women are pursuing their career in the area of IPR. Some of them are self employed and have become entrepreneurs.

1. To train women having background of science & Technology in the area of Intellectual Property Rights(IPRs).

2. To develop a core of professionals , skilled and well -versed with all the dimensions of IPR laws for protection and management of Intellectual Property.

3. To empower women scientists and technologists to open up a new career avenue in IPR as well as strengthen their own research.

PFC is the nodal office having overall responsibility of implementing the scheme throughout the country including training of selected candidates. It has set up four more coordination centres apart from PFC, namely, Karnataka State Council for Science & Technology (KSCST), Bengaluru ; Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur and CSIR-Unit for Research & Development of Information Products (URDIP), Pune and Assam Science & Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC), Guwahati for facilitating training of candidates

Selection will be through an all India online examination and interview. Shortlisted candidates meeting the eligibility criteria will be called for the online test. The online exam will be conducted simultaneously at all Examination Centres on the same date under the supervision of PFC and respective Coordination Centres. A merit list will be drawn after the online exam for the purpose of interview and such successful candidates will be informed. The online exam will be mainly objective in nature, having negative marking and aimed at determining the analytical, scientific and technical abilities. Similarly, interviews will be held at the Coordination Centres.

EXAMINATION PATTERN

The duration of the online examination will be 2 hours and total questions will be 120. The questions will be Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ type).

Question Paper will have 2 Sections of 60 questions each, namely Section A (General Section) and Section B (Technical Subject Section). Section A will be common for all. Section B will be different for different candidates as per their subject stream. Candidates will be able to view Questions in Section B based their subject stream The Section-wise details are given below:

Section A (General Section) : This section will have 60 questions common to each paper to be attempted by every candidate. These questions will be on General Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude, Mental Ability, General Science and General Awareness, IPRs and English language.

Sections B (Technical Subject Section) : This section will have 60 questions of 10+2/UG/PG degree level with a suitable mix. These questions will be from following technical subject domains:

(1) Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
(2) Food, Drugs & Pharma
(3) Life Sciences & Biotechnology
(4) Mechanical, Production, Industrial Engg, Civil Engg, Structural Engg, Construction Engg, Transportation Engg, Material Science Engg
(5) Electrical, Electronics & Communication, Instrumentation & Biomedical Engg
(6) Computer Science/ Engg, IT and Information & Communication Technology
(7) Others (Science & Engg /Technology subjects not covered in above domains)

In case the subject chosen by the candidate in the online application form does not relate to her (UG/PG) qualification, then the candidate will be shifted to the group as per her last / highest qualification. Such change will be reflected in the Admit Card.

There will be negative marking in the examination. Each correct answer will carry 1 mark while for each wrong answer 0.25 marks will be deducted.

STIPEND

TRAINING

Training will include one month of intensive orientation programme on IPR at New Delhi followed by specialized workshops and hands-on-training in agencies engaged in practicing of IPR for the rest of the period. Total duration of the training is one year. A certificate is issued to the candidates after completion of the training.


Orientation Programme

  :: Lectures sessions
    > Indian legal system and IPR
    > Basics of IPR
    > Detailed information about all forms of IPR
    > Creation & management of IPR portfolio
    > Technology tracking through IP mapping
    > IP valuation & licensing
    > Emerging dimensions in IPR
    > Developing IPR policies for institutions
    > International treaties on IPR
    > IPR audit
    > Searching of Patents, Designs & Trademarks
    > Basics of computer & software
    > Communication & technical writing

Hands-on-training is provided at partner agencies of the scheme such as government agencies dealing with intellectual property rights, Intellectual Property (IP) attorney law firms, Knowledge Processing Organisations (KPOs) and companies located in and around the Coordination Centres. The period of hands-on-training is about 10 to 11 months. TIFAC’s decision in placement of candidates as interns for the hands-on-training will be final. Post scholarship placement is not the responsibility of TIFAC.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops are conducted during the year on patent drafting, patent searches and different forms of IPR. Candidates are encouraged to attend and participate in IPR related seminars.

COORDINATION CENTRES