Applications Invited for Innovation Law & Policy Fellowship 2025

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About the Organization

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) is recognized by the University Grants Commission of India since 1964. BITS Pilani was declared an ʻInstitution of Eminence’ by the Government of India, has 5 campuses in Pilani, Dubai, Hyderabad, Goa, and Mumbai. BITS Law School was set up in March 2023 in Mumbai under the aegis of BITS Pilani and is approved by the Bar Council of India ‒ the regulatory body governing legal education in India. The mission of BITS Law School is to contribute towards nation-building by molding young minds into skilled, principled, creative, and empathetic legal professionals who will strive to uphold constitutional values and the rule of law. The vision is ʻ to become an inspirational benchmark for new-age, multidisciplinary legal education & research in India through creativity and empathy’.

The Centre for Research in Innovation Law for Shared Prosperity (CRISP) at BITS Law School is committed to an inclusive and diverse approach to technology innovation law and policy. Our goal is to foster the shared prosperity of societies, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by technology innovation in the modern, digitally connected world.

As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it raises complex legal, regulatory, and policy questions - particularly in emerging economies like India. CRISP actively monitors the evolving landscape of these questions, paying special attention to those that remain unresolved, with a view to benefiting a wide range of stakeholders: consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), governments, academia, industry, startups, civil society, and international partners.

Our work aims to transcend the ‘innovator versus adopter’ debate, which represents only a subset of the broader dynamic of the innovation ecosystem. We prioritize perspectives from all stakeholders, particularly consumers and SMEs, and place a strong emphasis on broader national interests such as data security, international competitiveness, and global trade. We firmly believe that sustained and meaningful technology innovation can drive competition and enhance consumer welfare. This is crucial for democracies seeking to maintain technological leadership, foster long-term economic growth, and promote societal well-being.

About the Fellowship  

The Centre for Research in Innovation Law for Shared Prosperity (CRISP) at BITS Law School, Mumbai (under BITS Pilani in India) invites applications for the Innovation Law & Policy Fellowship 2025 (“Fellowship”), May 2025-Jan 2026.

The Fellowship provides a platform to undertake legal and policy research in contemporary areas of technology innovation in wireless, information & communication technologies (ICTs). Patents are essential to the creation and functioning of technical standards in fast moving communication technologies, such Wi-Fi and 5G/6G, help consumers, industries, and nations in more ways than one. As one of the fastest growing markets globally, India is moving towards being an innovation-driven economy with impetus on domestic R&D, in-house innovation, facilitation to technology startups, and protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) for shared prosperity of society.

In this area, law & policy debates are important because 1. these technologies are complex and necessary in various industries, 2. the process of development of technical standards is long and dynamic, 3. IP regimes are required to be unambiguous and robust, and 4. the jurisprudence on IP licensing in these technologies continues to emerge and evolve.

Structure of the Fellowship:

• All submitted proposals from eligible applicants will be evaluated by a screening committee which will select 3-4 Fellows.
• Along with the Fellows, the meetings will bring experts from academia, industry, and government together to deconstruct the ICT techno-legal landscape, and discuss ideas submitted by the selected Fellows in their proposals.
• The Fellows may choose doctrinal analysis, empirical analysis or any other tested research methodologies. They can also undertake detailed case studies, patent data analysis, and comparative policy/ case analyses.
• This is a non-residential fellowship comprising four invite-only meetings (online and in-person) with experts from academia, industry and government. Fellowship meetings will have two parts. In part one, the experts will share knowledge, insights and developments with the selected Fellows. In part two, the Fellows will be invited to present their selected proposals and gain from the suggestions and feedback to further refine their ideas.
• The Fellowship culminates with the production of a research output, and its presentation in a panel dedicated to the Fellows in an in-person international conference organised by CRISP, BITS Law School.

Thematic areas for Fellowship:

• Role of IPRs in an innovation economy with a focus on mobile communication technologies
• Policy discourse and emerging jurisprudence on IPRs in mobile communications technologies
• Creation and commercialization of IP in India by startups and SMEs with a focus on patents

Outputs Expected:

• Presentation of the final research paper in the conference organised by CRSIP, BITS Law School.
• Submission of a research article which can be published in leading academic journals in the field, as a chapter of an edited volume, policy brief, and/or case commentaries

Benefits and Support:

• This is an opportunity to work on a LLM/PhD/post-doc proposal and/or to get a high-quality research publication.
• Along with access to research material and legal databases, Fellows will gain from networking with various experts.
• CRISP will offer a monthly stipend of Rs. 5000 to each eligible and selected Fellow for 9 months.
• The cost of logistics for in-person and online meetings will be borne by CRISP for each Fellow.
• An award of Rs. 200000/- to be given to one Fellow whose research is determined as outstanding by the jury.

Eligibility

• Scholars, lawyers and researchers residing in India and working / studying in law, policy, technology, and business with interest in the above-mentioned areas, especially tech innovation & IPRs in startups in India, are welcome to apply.
• Students in advanced stages of law school, postgraduate students enrolled in a law program, registered PhD / post-doc students, early-stage lawyers, and law researchers in research organizations are particularly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Tentative Timeline:

• Proposals to be submitted by 1 April 2025 and decisions to be communicated to selected Fellows by 30 April 2025.  
• The first three meetings are tentatively scheduled on 15 May 2025, 20 August 2025, and 20 November 2025.
• Presentation of final research in a conference tentatively in February 2026 followed by announcement of the award.

If you are interested in the Innovation Law & Policy Fellowship 2025, then send us a brief research proposal (up to 3 pages) with an updated CV to crisp@bitslawschool.edu.in by 1st April, 2025. You are encouraged to share writing samples. For more details, please visit https://www.bitslawschool.edu.in/CRISP.

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Tags Innovations and Technology Research Public Policy/ Policy Others