Report of the CGIAR Panel on Proprietary Science and Technology

Report of the CGIAR Panel on Proprietary Science and Technology on the management of intellectual property issues by IARCs. The document also contains a transmittal from the TAC Chair, and TAC's commentary.The report considered both center access to proprietary technologies developed by others, and the circumstances in which centers may seek intellectual protection over technologies they have developed. The panel was divided on whether the CGIAR should seek to protect some of its results. TAC points out the complex issues raised for the CGIAR's commitment to providing its output in the form of global public goods.The panel made three recommendations: 1. That the mission of the CGIAR should guide its approach to use of proprietary science of others, protection of its own developments, preventing misappropriation by others, and selection and design of research programs.2. That the CGIAR should set up a central office to deal with technology transfer, intellectual property, and alternative rights regimes.3. That centers' guiding principles on intellectual property should be revised, formalized and enforced.Appendix C consists of three papers on the use of proprietary research inputs at selected CGIAR centers, interviews with commercial companies and universities, and the significance of North-South trade in IARC crops. There is additional commentary and background in Appendix D.The panel was created at the request of MTM97, under the auspices of TAC. Its work was discussed at TAC 73 and 74. The report was presented at the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting, May 1998 by Panel Chair Timothy Roberts