Intellectual property (IP) rights are an issue of great concern in many developing nations who see IP as a barrier to their access to valuable technology. A major constraint to technology transfer is the lack of trained professionals who have the experience to understand the proprietary issues in biotech transfer. The focus will be on capacity building through the use of experiential-learning activities and the development of best practices to be shared among the participants in the several ABSPII projects.

ABSPII incorporates IP management training for project partners into each stage of the actual product development process. This will encourage active participation by all parties involved and develop the expertise needed such that activities will continue beyond the life of the project.

The U.S. is a key repository of biotechnology knowledge. Many of these technologies have considerable value for the South Asia region. However, in South Asia there is also significant native knowledge and scientific research work supported by large public and private research investments. For technology and scientific knowledge to flow, and for commercialization of technologies to take shape, it is essential to understand the mechanisms for technology development, technology transfer and trade, intellectual property mechanisms, and biotechnology policy and regulatory issues.

The US has well-established institutional mechanisms to facilitate transfer of publicly funded inventions for commercialization by the private sector. This has resulted in a high degree of success for public-private partnerships. Countries such as India have initiated similar efforts to ensure commercialization of inventions generated in public research institutions. India has shown much progress in other research fields (engineering and information technology), but at present the agricultural sector needs to focus specifically on technology transfer to improve profitability in the agricultural sector, and also to generate revenue from the inventions being produced. In the US, technology transfer has been predominantly from public to private; in South Asia, many countries will require engagement of the public sector in product delivery as well.

ABSPII South Asia conducts several workshops with anticipated outcome

•	Enhancing the capacity of technology transfer professionals in the South Asia region.
•	Intra country institutional partnerships in technology transfer.
•	Opportunities for Sub-Licensing of technologies from academic institutions to private ventures.
•	Collaborative research partnerships to synergize expertise available in public and private sector.
•	Enhanced capacity among South Asian institutions to create their own institutional policy and to negotiate and contract in-licensing and out-licensing for technologies.
•	Enhanced understanding of opportunities for US institutions to partner with South Asian institutions.
•	Identification of Spin-off opportunities from academic research.