India and Australia Sign to CSIR-TKDL to Strengthen Protection of Traditional Knowledge

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and IP Australia have entered into an Agreement on access to CSIR’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL) during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne, Australia. The Agreement was concluded in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Anthony Albanese MP.

The TKDL Access Agreement is one of the eighteen key outcomes of the bilateral discussions held during the Summit, which covered a wide range of areas including defence and security, energy security, education, skill development, science and technology, film-making, traditional knowledge, and repatriation of cultural properties.

The implementation of the Agreement will be overseen by Mr. Andrew Wilkinson, Commissioner of Patents, IP Australia; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; and Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, Scientist-H and Head, CSIR-TKDL Unit.(UPDATED ON 10TH JULY 2026)