SPARC
SpicyIP Academy Research Clinic
Your research on Indian IP deserves a serious read.
We’re here to help.
A structured peer-review programme by SpicyIP for students and early-career researchers working on Indian intellectual property law. Expert feedback. Peer community. Mutual growth.
SPARC is a non-commercial, purely academic initiative by the SpicyIP team. There is no participation fee, no hidden cost, and no commercial affiliation. It exists because good research deserves good feedback ‐ regardless of institutional access.
Why SPARC? Or: why getting useful feedback on your Indian IP paper shouldn’t require an Ivy League address.
Early-career IP researchers in India often have no access to substantive, expert feedback during the formative stages of their work. Peer review typically comes through elite institutional networks — faculty workshops, reading groups at well-resourced universities, conference circuits. If you’re outside that orbit, you’re largely on your own.
SPARC tries to fill that gap. It pairs researchers with reviewers from SpicyIP’s network who have genuine expertise in Indian IP law, policy, and practice ‐ and who will actually engage with your draft, not just pat you on the back.
How It Works
(fortnightly)
per session
per session
per paper
per cohort
Each presenter gets 45 minutes: a 15-minute presentation, 20 minutes of structured reviewer feedback (on both the talk and the written draft), and 10 minutes of open floor — where anything goes, including career questions. We’ll also have monthly open office hours. And follow up meetings on an availability basis.
| Segment | Time | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Your Presentation | 15 min | Present your argument, framing, and key findings |
| Reviewer Feedback | 20 min | Structured comments on your written draft & presentation |
| Open Floor | 10 min | Questions from the group — research, career, anything |
Beyond the Feedback Session
SPARC isn’t a one-off webinar. You get a cohort, a community, and ongoing support.
Expert Peer Review
Real engagement with your draft from people who know Indian IP — not generic comments.
Your 45 Minutes
A dedicated slot to present, get challenged, and sharpen your argument. Think of it as a friendly viva.
Your Cohort
A buddy system, a shared group, and fellow researchers who actually get what you’re working on.
Curated Resources
Reading lists, publication strategy guides, research templates — all India-focused.
Career Conversations
Publishing tips, fellowship leads, academic job market advice. No gatekeeping.
Alumni Network
Monthly office hours, an alumni channel, participant spotlights on SpicyIP, and a growing community.
Who Should Apply
Open to researchers based anywhere in the world — as long as the research engages with Indian IP. We particularly encourage applications from researchers at Indian universities.
- PhD candidates working on Indian IP law (Indian university candidates prioritised)
- Early-career academics within 5 years of completing a PhD, working on Indian IP
- LLM students with substantial Indian IP research projects (exceptional LLB students may be considered)
- Independent researchers with serious, ongoing Indian IP projects
What to Submit
We select 10 researchers per cohort, aiming for a spread of topics. If you’re not selected, you go on a waitlist with priority for the next round. No need to reapply.
- Research abstract or summary (500–750 words)
- Your current draft — at any stage (proposal, chapter, article draft, anything)
- 3–5 specific questions or areas where you want feedback
- Brief note on where you are in your research timeline
- One-paragraph researcher bio
- Your CV
Selection criteria: relevance to Indian IP law, policy, or practice; clarity of the research question; whether we can realistically help at your current stage; and topic diversity across the cohort.
Pilot Timeline
Participant Commitments
This isn’t a passive experience. We keep it small so everyone can show up meaningfully.
- Submit your latest draft at least 14 days before your scheduled session
- Attend your own session + at least 2 others as audience
- Provide brief written feedback to at least one fellow participant
- Fill in the post-pilot feedback survey
Community & Alumni
We’re building this for the long haul. SPARC isn’t just a programme — it’s the beginning of a durable research community around Indian IP.
Cohort Group
Shared space to connect, brainstorm, and swap resources.
Buddy System
Paired by research area; exchange drafts before sessions.
Monthly Office Hours
60-min Zoom call, rotating SpicyIP host, open to all alumni.
Alumni Channel
CFPs, fellowships, jobs, and research chatter across cohorts.
Spotlights on SpicyIP
Short profile posts introducing you and your research.
Annual Roundup
Year-end post on SpicyIP aggregating themes from Clinic sessions.
Completers become SpicyIP Research Clinic Alumni ‐ a community we look forward to co-building with you.
Confidentiality
Your unpublished work stays unpublished until you say otherwise.
All drafts shared during the Clinic are treated as strictly confidential. Reviewers and participants will not cite, reference, or publicly discuss unpublished work without explicit written permission. Recordings (if any) are never shared without consent. Feedback is for the researcher’s use only. You retain full ownership of your work.
The SPARC Team
- Akshat Agrawal PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge
- Daanish Naithani PhD Candidate, University of Antwerp
- Malobika Sen PhD Candidate, NUJS
- Lokesh Vyas PhD Candidate, Sciences Po
- Niharika Salar PhD Candidate, Queen’s University, Belfast
- Ambika Aggarwal PhD Candidate, Nalsar University of Law
- Swaraj Barooah Senior Expert, SpicyIP
Ready to get your work reviewed?
No fee. No commercial angle. Just substantive feedback on Indian IP research, from people who care about the field.
Deadline: May 31st, 2026
Apply to SPARC →Questions? Reach out at [email protected]