In the changing global scenario, the issues of IPR have gained special importance for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector. IPR protection plays a key role in gaining competitive advantage in terms of technological gains for achieving higher economic growth in a market driven economy.

It is felt that IPR requires greater understanding and attention by the industry, particularly the MSME sector in India. The “National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC)” which visualized a National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) to enhance the competitiveness of the SMEs sector. One of the components of the NMCP is “Building Awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)” for the MSME.

Accordingly, to enable the MSME sector face the present challenges of liberalization, various activities on IPR are proposed under this scheme. Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.