Startups, MSMEs filed 310% more patents in past 5 years: Government

Patent filings by startups and MSMEs have increased by 310% in the last 5 years from 1,492 in 2018-19 to 6,120 in 2023-24, an official said on Thursday.

N Ramchander, Joint Controller, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, further shared that in about three years over 2.4 million students and faculty across India have been educated about IP rights through the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission launched in 2021.

Addressing an event organised by ASSOCHAM, he informed that the filing of patent applications in India has surged by 116% rising from 42,763 in 2014-15 to 92,172 in 2023-24.

"Patent grants have been an even more remarkable increase of 1,624%, jumping from 5,978 in 2014-15 to 103,057 in 2023-24. India has seen the biggest change in resident and non-resident distribution over the past 10 years with the share of resident filling increasing from 24.8% in 2013 to 60% in 2024," said N Ramchander.

India's IPR policy has provided a comprehensive framework for IP creation, protection and commercialisation but continuous evaluation and updation are necessary.

The patent rules have been amended in 2024 in order to further simplify and streamline the procedure and create a conducive environment for innovation and protection of Intellectual Property (IP) in India.

Also, a certification of inventorship has been introduced to enhance the patenting ecosystem in India by formally recognising efforts of the inventors in the patented inventions.

Frequency to file 'working statements of patents' has been reduced from once in a year to once in every three years to lessen the administrative burden on applicants and reduce compliance costs.