IPRs are the final barrier between India and FutureGen, says US

Even though US has not changed its position on sharing of intellectual property in the multi-billion dollar FutureGen project...

Even though US has not changed its position on sharing of intellectual property in the multi-billion dollar FutureGen project with India, it is however still open to sharing of IPRs if certain legal requirements are met on this front.

Last year India officially stated that its 8220;main concern8221; while participating in the project is for 8220; sharing of project related information with participating countries and the sharing of IPRs for wider dissemination and application of FutureGen technology in the participating countries8221;.

The US, through the FutureGen project, aims at developing the first ever coal-fired power plant with near zero-emissions. While the US is pioneering work on this project and is bringing in bulk of the funds, India joined the FutureGen club, of which even China is a member since 2006. While replying to a specific query on India8217;s position in the FutureGen project, US under secretary of Energy, Clarence Bud Albright, today confirmed to the media that there are specific concerns related to IPRs and this position has 8220;not changed as of now8221;. However, he did say that the US laws on IPRs are very clear and clarified that these can be shared with 8220;friendly8221; countries. He clarified that the companies implementing the FutureGen project have to be 8220;confident8221; that IPRs shall be treated with confidentiality. He suggested that once legal requirements related to these issues are met , there could be transfer of technology.

Apart from sharing of IPRs, India has recently even specified that the role of inter-governmental committee, of which India is a part, should be re-oriented from being 8220;advisory8221; to 8220;providing direction8221; to the FutureGen project. India8217;s like some of the other member countries financial involvement in the project is a token 10 million. However it is countries such as India and China that are in the process of expanding its power capacity through coal-fired plants.