The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazil and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India have entered into a cooperation arrangement on access to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a first-of-its-kind prior-art database of Indian traditional knowledge. The Agreement was exchanged in the august presence of H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, on 21 February 2026.

H.E. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is on a State Visit to India from 18–22 February 2026 for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and bilateral engagements with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The two leaders welcomed the exchange of the TKDL Access Agreement between INPI, Brazil and CSIR, India, which further strengthens bilateral cooperation in the areas of traditional knowledge (TK) and intellectual property rights (IPR).

The Agreement was exchanged by H.E. Márcio Fernando Elias Rosa, Deputy Minister of Development, Industry, Trade & Services, Brazil, and Shri Periasamy Kumaran, IFS, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Through this cooperation, the Brazilian Patent Office will gain access to the TKDL database for use during patent examination and grant procedures. The TKDL serves as a key mechanism to prevent the misappropriation and erroneous patenting of Indian traditional knowledge as intellectual property.

The signing of the TKDL Access Agreement with INPI, Brazil marks the beginning of a new partnership that will strengthen India’s global efforts to prevent biopiracy and misappropriation of traditional knowledge, while supporting Brazil in improving the quality and efficiency of its patent examination process by facilitating better assessment of novelty and prior art.

The Agreement will be implemented under the guidance of Mr. Júlio César Moreira, President, INPI, Brazil; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; and Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Scientist-H and Head, CSIR-TKDL Unit, India.

About TKDL

The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a globally unique initiative, was established in 2001 by the Government of India through a collaboration between CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH. Its primary objective is to prevent the erroneous grant of patents on Indian traditional knowledge and to safeguard the country’s knowledge heritage from misappropriation.

The TKDL currently contains information on over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices drawn from Indian systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa Rigpa, as well as Yoga, sourced from authoritative traditional texts. Knowledge from multiple languages and disciplines is translated, structured and linked with modern scientific and technical terminology.

The database is available in five international languages—English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish—thereby overcoming language and format barriers and enabling effective use by patent examiners worldwide. Access is provided to patent offices through Non-Disclosure Agreements.

With the inclusion of INPI, Brazil, the number of patent offices worldwide with access to the TKDL rises to eighteen.

The TKDL is widely regarded as a global benchmark for the defensive protection of traditional knowledge. Its impact has been significant, with over 375 patent applications worldwide revoked, rejected, amended, withdrawn or abandoned based on prior-art evidence sourced from the TKDL.

*****

NKR/AK

(Release ID: 2231732) Visitor Counter : 364