A Wipo delegation was apprised with the IT industry's capabilities and strengths in India. ``The ministry is hopeful that the domestic IT industry will get opportunities to associate with intellectual property projects co-ordinated by WIPO,'' the minister said.

Elaborating on the government's stance on intellectual property rights (IPRs), the minister said unless intellectual property was protected, flow of technology would be hindered. ``India has a vast scientific manpower which is engaged in valuable research. The fruit of their labour has tobe guarded by an efficient IPR administration,'' he said.

With the view to provide an impetus to research within the country the government has decided to accede to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and Patent Cooperation Treaty, the minister said. ``It is our firm belief that with this step India would integrate itself with the world community in respect of IPRs and provide the necessary openings to its scientists, ''he said.

In order to improve administration of IPRs in the country, the ministry has drawn out elaborate plans for setting up a world class patent office under the stewardship of R A Mashelkar, director general, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The ministry would like to have the patent office declared as an International Search Authority and set up an International Preliminary Examination Authority under the terms of the Paris Convention, he said.

Speaking at the annual session, K Anji Reddy, chairman Reddy Laboratories, said in the 1970sit was important to produce cheap medicines for the poor in the country, hence there was a perfectly valid rationale for not providing process patents. Now conditions have changed, he said, adding, Indian companies are spending huge amounts on research. Reddy Laboratories has patented two new molecules which have given it the right to produce the formulations for the global market, he said. The two new drugs have earned the company $ 6.5 million in the last year, he said.

``It is necessary that companies which have invested huge amounts in research do not get cheated by duplicators. Hence protection of IPRs is a must for the growth the domestic drug industry, he underscored,'' he said.

Other companies as Ranbaxy and Lupin are also investing huge amounts in basic research. To enable the drug industry to hold their own against international competition in the wake of liberalisation there must be a tough administration for IPRs in the country, he said. Without protection basic research cannot survive as thecost for developing a new formulation is about $ 450 million, which is the cost from laboratory to market, he said.

In his address Mashelkar stressed on the need to develop India's intellectual capital on the strength that 50 per cent of its population is below the age of 30 years and that way it can take a lead in scientific and technological development which countries with a demographic profile of old people can not do, he said.