Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) aggressively persist on establishing Intellectual Property facilitation center (IPFC). Under the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Program, MSME is implementing a scheme 'Building Awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises' for setting up IPFC.

As of today, MSME ministry has sanctioned 24 IP facilitation centers for MSMEs, out of which, 16 are operational.

IPFC's monitoring mechanism include:
* The implementing agency for IPFC constitutes a Steering Committee to supervise its activities and to submit the quarterly progress report to the Central government to monitor the functioning of IPFC.
* A representative from the Ministry of MSME / Member of Project Implementation Committee (PIC), would visit IPFC to get information on the progress being made and verify the services being provided by the IPFC.
* Separate accounts in respect of funds released by Government of India for setting up of IPFC are maintained by implementing agency and the same is subjected to test check by the PIC through its representatives.

"The aim of setting up of IP centers are to assist the MSMEs and other prospective entrepreneurs to have an access to best practices for identification, protection and management of IPR as a business tool. The objective of setting up of IPFC is to guide MSME and other target beneficiaries regarding utilisation of IP tools and technologies for better management of their intellectual property related needs," said a statement.

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