IPC-EU is a cooperation project between the EUIPO and India within the framework of the European Union Programme ‘Capacity Building Initiative for Trade Development’ (CITD). The overall objective is to support India in strengthening its capacity to achieve growth and sustainable development and further its integration into the global trade system.
IPC-EUI was approved by the EU and the Government of India in 2014. EUIPO was entrusted with the IPR component within the programme ‘Capacity Building Initiative for Trade Development in India’
The European Union represented by the European Commission as the contracting authority, through a DCI financing instrument, finances 93,75 %, whereas EUIPO finances 6,25 %.
The EUIPO International Cooperation and Legal Affairs Department (ICLAD), is in charge of implementing the IPC-EUI project.
It is the official trade marks and designs office of the European Union. EUIPO registers European Union trade marks (EUTM) and Registered Community Designs (RCD), which are essential components of the European single market. These registrations provide trade mark and design protection throughout the European Union, which covers 28 countries and almost 500m people. For more information visit www.euipo.europa.eu
The overall objective of the project, stemming from the general objective of the CITD, is to strengthen India’s capacity to achieve growth and sustainable development and further its integration into the global trade system.
The specific objectives are twofold:
The project is divided into two components:
Component I IP Administration (trademark & design administration services & information to the business community)
Project Result: Strengthened capacity of Indian IP-related institutions though the exchange of best practices and effective cooperation to deliver high quality services in the areas of trade marks, industrial designs and geographical indications.
Component II Brand Development
Project Result: Improved capacity of the productive sector, especially SMEs to create, protect and manage their own brands by using IP as a tool for development.
The expected results are aligned with National IPR Policy of India of May 2017.
The project Overall Working Plan is divided in two Annual Working Plans and AWP covering a six-month projet extension:
AWP 2017: From October 2017 to March 2018
Activities under each component take place throughout the three year period. In other words, Component I and II are executed simultaneously.
Activities are organised in activity clusters:
Component I Activity Clusters
Component II Activity Clusters
Under the project extension other actions aligned with the National IPR Policy are envisaged:
Project results have been formulated in line with project component I and II. Therefore there are two expected results:
The organisational set up of the project comprises a Project Steering Committee (PSC), the Project Management Team (PMT) and the Indian National Coordinators (INC) and their Deputy. Moreover, in order to fulfil the project’s activities, international experts from the EUIPO and abroad are constantly involved in training, best practice exchanges, material preparation and coordinate with the management team to ensure the project is executed successfully.
Project Steering Committee (PSC)
The Project Steering Committee (PSC) set up within the context of the CITD programme, oversees and validates the overall direction and policy of the project and coordinates between all Government departments, institutions and other stakeholders. The PSC reviews and endorses the Annual Work Plans presented for implementation of the technical assistance activities envisaged in this document.
The PSC will also assist in facilitating and monitoring overall project implementation. The PSC is chaired by a senior Government of India Official (at Joint Secretary level) at the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). The PSC also includes representatives from CCI and IICA as well as from other government departments as needs be and representatives from EUD to India).
EUIPO, in its capacity as implementing agency, attends the PSC meetings with the right to speak.
The PSC will meet at least once a year. In principle, three such PSC meetings will take place during the period of implementation of the IPC-EUI.
The meeting of the PSC approving this OWP was held in New Delhi on the 20th of April 2015. The PSC approved the project Overall Work Plan (OWP) presented in this document as well as the Annual Work Plan 2015 (covering April 2015 to March 2016).
The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks will appoint an Indian National Coordinator (and their deputy) who will contribute to the planning and smooth and effective implementation of the various project activities including information on IP developments in India and compiling relevant data, upon request, maintaining continuous communication with the PMT in all matters relating to project implementation. They are the focal point of contact with the PMT and their involvement will be of pivotal importance for the successful completion of the project objectives.
The project is being implemented by the EUIPO through a Project Management Team (PMT) comprising two sub-teams, one based at the premises of an IP institution in New Delhi, and the other one based at EUIPO headquarters in Alicante, Spain.
The team in Alicante will be in charge of overall planning and coordination, including budgetary and financial administration, as well as the implementation of project activities in Europe and coordination with the relevant European institutions and project experts. The team in New Delhi will be responsible for providing support to the implementation of the project activities in India and coordination with the Indian partners.
IP experts are in the PMT, the PSC, National Coordinators, as well as outsourced from outside and within the EUIPO. Their role involves constant communication with the PMT to fulfil activity requirements as well as EUIPO’s protocol of actions when reporting and when decision-making is required.
You can contact the Project Management Team by filling in the contact form on this website. If you would like to contact them now, please write to the following address:
If you consider yourself a potential beneficiary or stakeholder of this project, please contact us here.