On the 4th of September, 2024, the Postgraduate (PG) Orientation Program at JSS Dental College & Hospital featured an enlightening session by Dr. Nitin V Muralidhar from the Department of Orthodontics. His talk, titled 'Patent and Innovation: Paving the Way for Future Dental Breakthroughs,' aimed to inspire and educate newly inducted postgraduate students about the importance of innovation not only in dental research, but across all fields and the role of patents in protecting and commercializing their ideas

Dr. Nitin began his talk by emphasizing the critical role that innovation plays. He encouraged the students to adopt an innovative mindset, stressing that the next big breakthrough could come from any of them. He emphasized that innovation is not limited to creating entirely new products or techniques; it can also involve improving existing methods or finding new applications for current technologies

Transitioning into the topic of patents, Dr. Nitin provided a comprehensive overview of what patents are and why they are important for researchers and innovators

Dr. Nitin outlined the steps involved in taking an idea from conception to patent. He emphasized the importance of thorough research and development, including conducting a literature review to ensure the idea is novel and has not already been patented. He also highlighted the need for careful documentation of the invention process, which can be crucial when applying for a patent

He showed examples of how inventions have changed the face of humanity especially in the field of medicine. He also showed innovation in field other than medicine and how they have transformed the world. He highlighted few Indian innovators who have global impact and also gave information about various sites that grants financial aids for patents & research

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Nitin emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of innovation within the academic and clinical environments at JSS Dental College & Hospital. He encouraged students to collaborate across disciplines, think creatively, and be persistent in their efforts to bring new ideas to fruition. Dr. Nitin also reminded the students that innovation is a continuous process and that they should remain open to learning, adapting, and improving their ideas

Dr. Nitin’s session was highly appreciated, setting a tone of creativity and forward-thinking for the PG Orientation Program at JSS Dental College & Hospital