In a significant initiative to strengthen intellectual property awareness among women-led businesses, Udyogwardhini, one of Maharashtra's leading entrepreneurship development organizations, organized an expert session on "Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Entrepreneurs." The session was delivered by Mr. Abhijit Bhand, Founder and CEO of Kanadlab Institute of Intellectual Property & Research, who interacted with a dynamic group of aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The program by inaugaurated by Sh. Sunil Chandak, founding president of Udyogwardhini.
Founded in 1995 with a vision of democratizing entrepreneurship, Udyogwardhini has played a pivotal role in nurturing thousands of entrepreneurs through practical training, mentorship, and business development programs. The organization has empowered more than 75,000 entrepreneurs and has consistently promoted innovation, skill development, and women-led enterprises across multiple sectors.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Bhand emphasized that while entrepreneurs often focus on developing products and reaching customers, protecting their innovations and brand identity is equally critical for sustainable business growth. He explained that intellectual property is no longer merely a legal subject but a strategic business asset capable of creating long-term competitive advantages. Whether it is a unique food recipe, product packaging, brand name, manufacturing process, digital content, or an innovative technology, every business possesses valuable intellectual assets that deserve legal protection.
The session covered the practical application of patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs, and geographical indications, with special emphasis on the intellectual property needs of micro, small, and women-led enterprises. Through practical examples and case studies, participants learned how intellectual property rights help businesses establish market credibility, prevent unauthorized copying, attract investors, generate licensing opportunities, and increase enterprise valuation.
Drawing upon his professional experience of working across diverse technological domains and conducting over 300 intellectual property awareness programmes for students, researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs, Mr. Bhand shared practical insights into integrating IP protection into business strategy from the earliest stages of product development. He encouraged participants to identify intellectual assets within their businesses before they entered the market, thereby avoiding future legal disputes and strengthening their commercial position.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from women entrepreneurs representing diverse sectors, including food processing, manufacturing, handicrafts, services, and home-based enterprises. Participants actively engaged in discussions regarding trademark registration, patentability of innovative products, copyright protection for creative content, and strategies for commercializing intellectual property.
The session also highlighted the growing role of women entrepreneurs in India's innovation ecosystem. As government initiatives continue to promote startups, MSMEs, and women-led enterprises, awareness of intellectual property has become increasingly essential for ensuring that innovative ideas are transformed into valuable and legally protected business assets. Participants appreciated the practical orientation of the programme, noting that the session helped bridge the gap between entrepreneurship and intellectual property management.
The organizers expressed their appreciation to Mr. Bhand for delivering an informative and engaging session that combined legal knowledge with practical business insights. The event concluded with an interactive discussion, reinforcing the message that protecting innovation is not reserved for large corporations alone but is equally important for first-generation entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses striving to build sustainable and competitive enterprises.
