In News:

U.S. Scientists David Baker and John Jumper and Britain’s Demis Hassabis won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for their work on understanding the protein structures.

Prize Distribution

• David Baker: Awarded half of the Prize for pioneering work in computational protein design.
• Demis Hassabis and John Jumper: Jointly awarded the other half for their revolutionary contributions to protein structure prediction using artificial intelligence.

Significance of Achievements

• The advancements in protein science represent a major milestone for healthcare and biotechnology.
• These innovations have unlocked new possibilities for designing proteins, potentially leading to breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and more.

David Baker's Innovations

• Baker has achieved the significant feat of creating entirely new types of proteins, enhancing our understanding of protein functionality.
• In 2003, he designed a novel protein using amino acids and custom software methods, which opened avenues for rapid protein creation.
• Applications include pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and tiny sensors.

AI Contributions by Hassabis and Jumper

• Demis Hassabis and John Jumper employed advanced artificial intelligence to address the challenge of predicting complex protein structures.
• In 2020, they introduced the AI model AlphaFold2, which can predict the structure of nearly all identified proteins (approximately 200 million).

Notable Facts about the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded 116 times to 197 laureates from 1901 to 2024.
• Frederick Sanger and Barry Sharpless are the only recipients to have won the Prize twice.
• The inaugural Prize was awarded in 1901 to Jacobus H. van ‘t Hoff for his work on chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure.
• Marie Curie became the first woman to win the Prize in 1911 for her discovery of radium and polonium.
• Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a citizen of Indian origin, received the Prize in 2009 for his research on ribosomes.

In News:

• India has moved up to 39th place among 133 economies in the GII 2024, showcasing significant progress from its 81st position in 2015.

Key Details:

• Regional Leadership: India ranks first among the 10 economies in Central and Southern Asia, highlighting its emerging leadership in innovation within the region.
• Lower-Middle-Income Economies: India is also the top-ranked lower-middle-income economy in the GII.
• WIPO Science & Technology Ranking: India holds the 4th position in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Science & Technology Cluster Ranking, indicating robust innovation capabilities.
• Top Science & Technology Clusters: Major Indian cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai—are recognized among the world’s Top 100 S&T clusters, emphasizing urban centers' roles in fostering innovation.
• Intangible Asset Intensity: India ranks 7th globally in intangible asset intensity, reflecting a strong focus on knowledge-based assets and intellectual property.

Context and Significance of GII

• Purpose of GII: The GII evaluates innovation ecosystems of 133 economies, providing insights into trends that drive economic and social change through innovation.
• Global Leaders: The top five most innovative economies according to the GII 2024 are Switzerland, Sweden, the US, Singapore, and the UK.
• Fastest Climbers: India is among the fastest climbers in the GII over the past decade, alongside China, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Overview of WIPO

• Foundation and Mission: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), established in 1974 and part of the UN since then, aims to support global innovators and creators, ensuring the safe journey of their ideas to market.
• Membership: WIPO comprises 193 member states, including a diverse range of developing and developed countries, facilitating a broad exchange of intellectual property knowledge.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.