Searching for the right patents and prior art is an important step in understanding the novelty, relevance, and potential of an innovation.
As part of the ANRF + Venture Center Outreach Initiative, Venture Center is organizing an online session on “Searching for Patents & Other Prior Art: Why & How?”.
The session will introduce participants to the importance of patent and prior-art searches, why they matter during innovation and intellectual property planning, and how such searches can support better decision-making during research, product development, patenting, and commercialization.
What will you learn?
Participants will gain an understanding of:
- Why patent and prior-art searches are important.
- How prior-art searches can support innovation and IP planning.
- The role of patent information during research and technology development.
- How patent searches can help identify existing technologies and related inventions.
- How prior-art information can contribute to patentability assessment and IP strategy.
- Practical considerations while searching for patents and other prior art.
Who should attend?
The session will be useful for researchers, innovators, startups, entrepreneurs, students, technology developers, academic teams, and professionals interested in understanding patent information, prior-art searches, intellectual property, and technology commercialization.
About the Speaker
Vidula K. Walimbe, PhD, RTTP
Vidula is a technology transfer and intellectual property professional with a Ph.D. in Law from Symbiosis International University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights from NALSAR University of Law.
As a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP), she has expertise in patent analytics, prior-art searches, patentability assessments, and IP strategy, with experience across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.
At Venture Center, she is part of the Innovation Management team, supporting IP services, technology transfer, and technology commercialization initiatives.
Ask Me Anything Session
The session will also include an interactive Ask Me Anything segment with Dr. Premnath V, Director, Venture Center.
Participants will have an opportunity to engage directly, ask questions, and clarify their doubts related to patents, prior art, intellectual property, innovation, and technology commercialization.
Session Details
Date: 29 September 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Mode: Online via Zoom
Registration Fee: Free
How to Register
Interested participants can register for the session through the registration link below.
Please Note:
- The session is free of cost.
- Prior registration is required.
- The session will be conducted online via Zoom.
- Participants will have an opportunity to interact with the speakers and clarify their questions during the session.
Learn how to search smarter, understand existing knowledge, and make better-informed IP and innovation decisions.
Whether you are working on a research project, developing a new technology, evaluating an invention, or planning to protect intellectual property, this session will help you understand why prior-art searches matter and how they can support your innovation journey.
For more details please contact:
Meetali Barhate | meetali.barhate@venturecenter.co.in | +91-9156465146
For more information: www.venturecenter.co.in/ANRFplus