Call for Papers: Two-Day International Conference on Navigating the Intersection of IPR, Global Politics, and Sustainable Development at Karnavati University, Gandhinagar [hybrid; 23-24 April 2027]

The Centre for Research on Intellectual Property Rights (CRIPR), Unitedworld School of Law (UWSL), Karnavati University, in collaboration with the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), is organising a Two-Day International Conference on Navigating the Intersection of IPR, Global Politics, and Sustainable Development: Bridging the North-South Divide in the Digital Era. It is on 23rd - 24th April 2027 at Unitedworld School of Law, Adalaj-Uvarsad Road, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with a publication opportunity with Atlantis Press (Springer Nature Group).

The brochure frames the conference around a paradox: technology has made information more accessible than ever, yet the legal and political barriers to accessing that knowledge have become increasingly complex. As the world races toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) have emerged as the primary battlefield where corporate interests, state sovereignty and human rights collide.

The North-South Divide is a central friction point. Developed nations (the North) advocate stringent IP enforcement to protect innovation, while developing nations (the South) often view these frameworks as hurdles to affordable healthcare, food security and essential technology transfer. The conference seeks to deconstruct these power dynamics and imagine a more equitable global IP regime. Its primary objective is to engage with the sociological, economic and technological dimensions of IP, as a multidisciplinary platform.

• Karnavati University (NAAC Grade A+) is a State Private University near Gandhinagar, spread over 33 acres in Uvarsad. It was granted Private University status in March 2017 by the state of Gujarat under the Gujarat Private Universities Act, 2017.
• Unitedworld School of Law (UWSL) is a constituent of Karnavati University, recognised by the Bar Council of India. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.), B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M. and Ph.D. in Law.
• The UWSL Centre for Research on Intellectual Property Rights (CRIPR) describes itself as a platform for advancing the global and national IP regime through research and policy intervention, with interdisciplinary seminars, capacity-building programs and collaborative student research.
• The Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) was established in September, 1986 to play a catalytic role in promoting the use of Science and Technology in the development process of the State.

• The IP and Politics: beyond legal statutes, IP acts as an instrument of foreign policy and economic governance. The conference will examine how IP shapes international relations and the sovereignty of nations.
• The IP and Sustainability: aligning IP with the SDGs requires a shift from “exclusive ownership” to “inclusive innovation”. The conference will examine how an IP framework can act as a catalyst for the public good.
• Human-Centric Rights: the expansion of the digital economy has led to an unprecedented rise in encroachment on the rights of artists, consumers and indigenous people. The conference will explore the tension between technological advancement and the rights of human beings.

Submissions are invited under six tracks:

• Track A: The Geopolitics of Knowledge and The North-South Divide
• Track B: Ethical Innovation and Sustainable Development (SDGs)
• Track C: Digital Frontiers, Creative Rights and Consumer Protection
• Track D: Heritage, Bio-Ethics and Community Rights
• Track E: Corporate Strategy and Technology Transfer
• Track F: Trademark Ethics and Global Identity

The sub-themes listed across these tracks are:

• The IP Waiver Debate
• Decolonizing IP
• Technology Transfer
• Food Security & Patents
• Digital Neo-Colonialism
• IP for Peace and Justice
• Circular Economy
• Frugal Innovation (Jugaad)
• Gender and IPR
• Infrastructure & Innovation
• AI & Authorship
• The Gig Economy & Performers’ Rights
• Trade Secrets in the Age of Big Data
• E-Commerce & IP Infringement
• NFTs & Blockchain
• Bio-piracy & Benefit Sharing
• Geographical Indications (GI)
• Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
• Pharma Patents vs. Traditional Medicine
• Environmental Jurisprudence
• MSMEs and IP Management
• University-Industry Collaboration
• Valuation of Intellectual Assets
• Cyber-Security and Trade Secret Theft
• Commercial Interest Vs Public Interest
• Ethics of Global Branding
• Trademarks in the Digital Commons
• Brand identity and Personality Rights
• Merchandising Vs Human Rights

The organisers also welcome submissions that may not strictly fall under these sub-themes but align with the overarching theme of IPR, Politics, and Global Equity. Empirical studies, case laws and comparative legal analyses are highly encouraged.

The organisers invite academicians, legal practitioners, technocrats, social activists and students to submit their original research. They invite original work-in-progress research (first draft). Authors of accepted abstracts present their work-in-progress (first draft) during dedicated technical sessions and then have the opportunity to submit the final manuscript for publication.

• Stage 1, Abstract Submission: submit an abstract of 300–500 words. The abstract must specifically highlight the issue addressed in the research.
• Stage 2, Draft Submission: submit the first draft of the paper by 15th January 2027.
• Stage 3, Presentation: authors of accepted abstracts are invited to present their paper on 23rd -24th April 2027.
• Stage 4, Full Chapter Submission: after the presentation, selected authors may submit a full-length paper (4,000 – 6,000 words) for publication.

• Word limit: abstracts should be between 300–500 words.
• Keywords: provide 3–5 keywords that clearly identify the research focus.
• Author details: include the full name, institutional affiliation and contact details of the author(s).
• Abstracts must be submitted on or before 01st November 2026, through the Abstract_IPR Conference link in the brochure.
• Authors will be notified of abstract acceptance by 6th November 2026.

For the full chapter and first draft:

• Font: Times New Roman, Size 12.
• Line spacing: 1.5 for main text; 1.0 for footnotes.
• File format: .doc or .docx.
• No footnotes are required, only references to be added [APA Style].

The two-day event will feature:

• Inaugural Plenary: 23rd April 2027.
• The Panel Discussion: a dialogue on “IP as a Barrier or Bridge to Technology Transfer” featuring policymakers, scientists and legal experts.
• Technical Sessions: parallel tracks for paper presentations, curated to foster peer-to-peer feedback and academic rigor.
• 23rd April 2027: presenters from Gujarat [Offline Mode].
• 24th April 2027: presenters from other States [Offline/Online Mode].
• Valedictory: 24th April 2027, a synthesis of the conference findings.

International participants present in online mode. Each author is allotted 10–12 minutes for the presentation, followed by a Q&A session.

• For every participation, registration is mandatory.
• Presenters: INR 1200 for professionals, faculty, lawyers etc.; INR 800 for students and research scholars; no registration fee for international participants.
• Attendees: INR 100. A certificate of attendee is awarded to attendees.
• Participants need to register only after acceptance of abstract.
• Payment is made by scanning the UPI QR code in the brochure; the payee is Karnavati Medical And Educational Trust.
• Attendees can register by making the payment and attaching the payment receipt through the Attendees Registration Form (https://forms.gle/aXeqLvm7WPNnBYuV9), which asks for name, designation, affiliation and contact number.
• No TA/DA (Travel Allowance / Dearness Allowance) is provided for attending the event. Participants make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation.
• The registration fee does not include the publication fee.

• Peer review: papers undergo a double-blind peer review by experts in the field.
• Selected high-quality papers presented at the conference may be considered for publication in an Edited Book to be published by Atlantis Press (Springer Nature). The final decision on acceptance, selection and overall quality assessment of any manuscript rests solely with the publishers.
• Acceptance for presentation does not guarantee publication in the conference proceeding. The final decision is made by the publisher based on the quality and originality of the full paper.
• Article processing charges levied by the publisher are borne by the authors only.
• A Certificate of Presentation is issued to all presenters, and a certificate of merit is awarded to the best three presenters in the conference paper presentation.

• Last date for abstract submission: 01st November 2026
• Notification of abstract acceptance: 06th November 2026
• Submission of first draft: 15th January 2027
• Conference date: 23rd - 24th April 2027
• Submission of full chapter: 30th May 2027

The venue is Unitedworld School of Law, Adalaj-Uvarsad Road, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is 18 KMS (25 Mins Drive) from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), 7 KMS (15 Mins Drive) from the Gandhinagar Railway Station, 24 KMS (40 Mins Drive) from the Kalupur Railway Station, Ahmedabad, and 29 KMS (50 Mins Drive) from the New Geeta Mandir ST Bus Stand, Ahmedabad.

• Chief Patron: Shri Ritesh Hada, President, KU
• Patron: Prof. (Dr.) P. Lakshmi, Dean, UWSL, KU
• Chair: Dr. Charu Srivastava, Professor & Assistant Dean, KU
• Co-Chair: Dr. Neeti Goyal, Assistant Professor, UWSL, KU
• Student Coordinators: Mr. Mustansir Ghasia, Convenor, CRIPR, and Ms. Vidhi Chauhan, Co-Convenor, CRIPR

For any query write to CRIPR@karnavatiuniversity.edu.in or call +91 97258 65718 / +91 76980 47235.