Bangladesh to Benefit from TRIPS Waiver: An Academic Perspective

Abstract

An inventor can protect the property right of his or her technique, material, or product by obtaining a patent to preserve both academic and financial interest. In the last decades, Bangladesh has shown comparable progress in basic and applied bioresearch. The major accomplishments include the jute genome sequencing, novel tolerant rice varieties, rapid diagnostic methods for tuberculosis etc. Despite the progresses in biological research, our academics are not fully aware of their intellectual property rights (IPRs) and the importance of patenting their potential inventions which could ultimately benefit the nation. In parallel to the public research institutes, pharmaceutical industry can significantly contribute to translate research into wellbeing. To be noted, Bangladesh and other Least Developed Countries (LDC) have been exempted from the TRIPS agreement on patenting pharmaceutical inventions until the year 2033. This article will focus on two points, first, awareness on intellectual property rights can advance the scientific status of Bangladesh; second, collaborations between industries, multidisciplinary academics, and policy makers can utilize local inventions to solve the health problems in Bangladesh.