India, June 17 -- The state higher and technical education department has given in-principle approval for a Rs.60 crore fund to strengthen intellectual property rights (IPR) activities in universities and colleges across Maharashtra. The move follows a report by a state-appointed committee that proposed measures to improve patent filing, innovation and research commercialisation in higher education institutions.

The eight-member committee, chaired by A.B. Pandit, vice-chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, reviewed the patent status of public universities and higher education institutions and recommended steps to strengthen the state's intellectual property ecosystem.

A key recommendation is the creation of MANTRA (Maharash...