As iGEM Teams, we deal extensively with GMOs, Funding Contracts which involve patent sharing agreements etc. but as Biologists, we are hardly proficient when it comes to policy matters. Some members of our team are rather interested in this aspect of the policy, legal perspectives. After having thoroughly read the legal contract with our Sponsors, we realised we need an easy-to-understand policy overview of Intellectual Property Rights and GMO Policy in India.
While reviewing plans for commercialization of our project, we started understanding the Patent Filing Process. To help other iGEM teams, we launched the Patent Handbook for Indian iGEM Teams. As a team on therapeutics track which aims to manufacture a GMO pill iβeta, we decided to look into the Indian regulations on GMOs. This led to our report on the GMO Policy of India. After comprehensively surveying various acts, guidelines, forms etc. and consulting experts we compiled all available information in a lucid, organized manner which will definitely help any iGEM Team that wishes to understand the technical aspects of launching a Start-Up in Synthetic Biology.