India and Australia have signed an agreement granting IP Australia access to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL) during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne.
The agreement enables IP Australia to use the TKDL database as a source of prior art while examining patent applications, helping prevent the wrongful patenting of India's documented traditional knowledge and improving the quality and efficiency of patent examination.
The pact was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and was among the key outcomes of the bilateral summit. Both countries said the agreement reflects their shared commitment to protecting indigenous knowledge systems, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening intellectual property rights through the effective use of documented traditional knowledge.