The Global Knowledge Divide, International Learning and Intellectual Proporty Rights KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION UNDER THE EMERGING POST-TRIPS INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL SCENARIO

This paper analyzes the post-TRIPs behavior of domestic and foreign pharmaceutical firms in India in respect of technology acquisition, knowledge transfer and domestic R&D. It suggests that evidence available on the diffusion of knowledge contradicts the claim of TRIPs advocates that its adverse effect on prices of patented medicines would be adequately compensated by the benefits of technology transfer and domestic R&D. It assesses the prospects of capability development by the domestic firms in a scenario when they have also chosen to enter into the relations of subcontracting in R&D and production for the multinational corporations. It claims that due to the introduction of strong IPRs pharmaceutical multinationals are now advantageously placed to control the knowledge diffusion and integrate the local capabilities of a country like India in to their own myopic and narrowly benefiting innovation strategies