By AIT Entrepreneurship Center
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), through the Office of Innovation and Industry Partnership, and Entrepreneurship Center, has launched a new workshop series aimed at strengthening Intellectual Property (IP) awareness and patent strategy across its postgraduate community.
The initiative is a part of AIT’s broader effort to embed a structured innovation process and commercialization literacy within its research ecosystem, ensuring that scientific discoveries are strategically protected and positioned for industry engagement.
The inaugural session was led by Prof. Siddharth Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development, a licensed Patent Practitioner, and the author of AIT’s Intellectual Property Policy and Procedures. With academic expertise spanning nanotechnology and mechanical engineering, Prof. Jabade brings both technical depth and legal insight to AIT’s innovation framework.
The first cohort comprised postgraduate students supervised by Dr. Branesh Pillai from the Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, with additional sessions scheduled to roll out across other faculties in the coming months.
From Innovation to Impact
In his address, Prof. Jabade emphasized that innovation alone is no longer sufficient in a highly competitive global research environment.
“In today’s global research landscape, innovation is expected. What distinguishes institutions is the ability to accelerate innovation in a structured and protected manner.”
He highlighted the strategic use of the patent system, particularly patent search and analysis, as a tool to enhance research and innovation excellence. Prof. Jabade noted that many researchers unintentionally compromise the long-term value of their work by prioritizing publication without first considering protection pathways.
“If research findings are disclosed before protection is secured, the opportunity to safeguard intellectual property may be permanently lost. Intellectual property strategy should be considered at the research design stage, not after results are finalized.”
Problem-First Thinking and Strategic Protection
A core theme of the workshop was the importance of defining the problem before developing solutions. According to Prof. Jabade, patentable and impactful innovation begins with clarity in articulating the technical challenge.
“Innovation begins with a well-defined problem. When the problem is properly articulated, the resulting solution is stronger, more defensible, and more relevant.”
Participants were introduced to structured patent search methodologies and guided on analyzing prior art using patent databases. The session demonstrated how patent analytics can help researchers to:
- Identify existing technologies and avoid duplication
- Refine research positioning
- Strengthen potential patent claims
- Align research outputs with industry relevance
Patents were presented not as administrative formalities, but as strategic tools that can actively guide research direction and protect long-term value creation.
Strengthening AIT’s IP and Innovation Framework
The workshop series is a structured effort to integrate IP literacy into postgraduate training at AIT. By embedding protection strategies early in the research lifecycle, the Institute aims to strengthen translational outcomes while maintaining academic rigor.
Further sessions will be conducted with postgraduate students from across all faculties as part of a phased, institute-wide rollout. Through this initiative, AIT reinforces its commitment to responsible innovation, ensuring that research excellence is supported by strategic protection and meaningful societal impact.
Edited by: Office of Communications and Public Affairs
