Welcome back to another week of Bells & Whistles!
A quick reminder: the SpicyIP–jhana Blogpost Writing Competition is still open — so if you’ve been meaning to write, this is your nudge!
Bell of the Week: Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) Initiative
Some Bells don’t just chime — they challenge the way we think. This week, I want to spotlight the Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) Initiative by CSIR, a path-breaking effort that reimagined how drug discovery could be done in India and globally.
Launched to tackle diseases often neglected by traditional pharmaceutical research, OSDD harnessed collaborative, open-source science, bringing together researchers, students, and institutions to work on projects ranging from tuberculosis to other pressing public health challenges. Inspired by open movements like Linux and the Human Genome Project, it allowed independent researchers to share, discuss, and collaborate freely online, offering a model of transparency and collective effort in contrast to traditional, information-protective approaches.
OSDD’s model and early impact were widely recognized, including in academic analyses such as this overview on open-source drug discovery approaches published in Drug Discovery Today (ScienceDirect).
Unfortunately, in 2014, CSIR’s OSDD program experienced funding disruptions due to bureaucratic delays. It is unclear whether the project has been officially shut or in prolonged suspension. Even so, it remains a powerful example of how open science can transform research, demonstrating the impact of collaboration, transparency, and shared knowledge — a Bell that continues to resonate across labs, classrooms, and policy discussions.
EVENTS
1. ATRIP Mid-Year Webinar 2026: Global Developments in Technology Transfer
16 January 2026 | 15:00–16:30 CET
The ATRIP Mid-Year Webinar is an open online session for scholars, practitioners, and students interested in current issues in intellectual property. This year’s theme—Global Developments in Technology Transfer—features a diverse panel of international experts and includes updates on the upcoming ATRIP Annual Congress in São Paulo, Brazil. Open to both ATRIP members and non-members.
More info
OPPORTUNITIES
1st National Policy Brief Competition on Intellectual Property & Innovation 2025 (SpicyIP & CIPAM, DPIIT)
Deadline: 14 December 2025
The competition invites law students to present policy solutions on pressing IP and innovation issues. Teams of three (from the same institution) can choose between two themes — Trade Secrets & Confidential Information in the Pharmaceutical Sector and Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) and Technological Innovation.
More info
SpicyIP–jhana Blogpost Writing Competition 2025
Deadline: 30 December 2025
Organized in collaboration with jhana, the competition will run for six weeks, during which shortlisted entries will be published on the SpicyIP blog after editorial review. The top three entries will be announced in early January 2026. Participants and readers can also access a complimentary one-month jhana.ai Pro account using the promo code SPICYIP to support their research.
More info
1. Fellowship: Patent Law and Policy | Patents and Treaties Law Section, WIPO
Deadline: 12 December 2025 (4:29 AM Geneva time)
A 12-month fellowship at WIPO’s Patents and Treaties Law Section (Patent and Technology Law Division), based in Geneva. Applicants must hold a first-level university degree in law or a related discipline, have at least two years of relevant professional experience in intellectual property law and practice, and possess excellent written and spoken English. The fellowship offers a monthly stipend of CHF 6,000.
More info
2. Youth for Tech Futures (YTF) Fellowship 2026 | The Pranava Institute (Youth Digital Cultures Lab) & University of Leeds
Application Deadline: 15 December 2025
Applications are now open for the 4-month Youth for Tech Futures (YTF) Fellowship, a fully paid research fellowship for individuals aged 18–27. Hosted by The Pranava Institute’s Youth Digital Cultures Lab in collaboration with the University of Leeds, the program brings together 10 fellows to conduct original research on how young Indians experience and imagine their digital lives. Fellows will explore three thematic tracks: meaningful digital inclusion, non-Western digital futures, and digital wellbeing.
The fellowship includes a two-month academic program led by global experts, a fully sponsored 4-day bootcamp in Bangalore (8–11 January 2026), hands-on capstone research, and the opportunity to co-author a final output. YTF is fully funded, with fellows receiving a ₹1,00,000 stipend upon completion.
More info.
3. Professor of Law (Information Technology Law) | University of Bristol Law School
Deadline: 4 January 2026
The University of Bristol Law School is recruiting a Professor of Law with expertise in Information Technology Law (broadly defined, including AI, innovation, and regulation), along with the ability to teach at least one foundational legal subject. Applicants should hold a PhD in Law or equivalent, have an internationally recognised record of published research, and demonstrate strong teaching and academic leadership capabilities. The full-time position (part-time considered) is available from 3 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, at Grade M (£74,828–£80,246).
More info
4. Call for Submissions: Journal of Intellectual Property Studies (JIPS) — 2026 Issue
Submission deadline: 25 January 2025
The Journal of Intellectual Property Studies (JIPS), published under National Law University, Jodhpur (ISSN 2583-5297), invites original, unpublished manuscripts for its 2026 issue (Volume X, Issue 1). Submissions can take the form of articles or notes and should focus on intellectual property law or related areas such as media and technology law. Academicians, practitioners, research scholars, and undergraduate or postgraduate students are welcome to submit. Please ensure manuscripts adhere to the submission guidelines.
More info
5. Hardiman PhD Scholarships 2026 | University of Galway
Deadline: 6 February 2026 (17:00 Irish Time)
The University of Galway has opened applications for its 2026 Hardiman PhD Scholarships, offering fully funded four-year doctoral study for students commencing on 1 September 2026. Each scholarship provides a €25,000 annual stipend along with a full tuition fee waiver, supporting high-calibre researchers across a wide range of disciplines.
More info
6. Fully Funded PhD Studentships at Ulster University
Application Deadline: 27 February 2026 (4 PM GMT)
Ulster University has opened applications for its annual PhD scholarship competition for entry in September 2026. The fully funded studentships include full tuition fee coverage (over £14,000), a tax-free annual maintenance grant of £20,780, and a £900 yearly research training and support grant, along with access to Ulster’s Researcher Development Programme. Applicants from the UK, Republic of Ireland, and overseas are eligible to apply for full-time or part-time study across all subject areas, with a minimum requirement of a 2:1 degree or equivalent.
More info
7. Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT) Doctoral Studentships | University of Westminster
Deadline: 6 February 2026
The University of Westminster invites applications for the next round of QHT Doctoral Studentships, with ten awards available across all schools. Shortlisted candidates must already hold an offer to a Westminster doctoral programme. Applications will be assessed by the University’s QHT Selection Panel, with final decisions expected by 3 April 2026. Applicants who are not selected will retain their self-funded offer.
More info
8. ANU Law School Visiting Fellows Program
The ANU Law School invites leading academics, practitioners, and policy-makers from around the world to join its Visiting Fellows Program, hosted at Australia’s national law school. Fellows engage with ANU’s interdisciplinary faculty and pursue individual or collaborative research within a vibrant intellectual community. Fellowships typically run for 3, 6, or 9 weeks, during which participants are based full-time on the ANU campus with access to office space, library resources, and university facilities. The program also provides funding for travel and accommodation.
More info
Many thanks to Lokesh for the leads and Swaraj for introducing me to OSDD!
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