Startups, MSMEs filed 310% more patents in past five years: Official

Patent filings by startups and MSMEs have increased by 310% in the last five years, from 1,492 in 2018-19 to 6,120 in 2023-24, said Joint Controller Mr. N. Ramchander of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks. Over 2.4 million students and faculty across India have been educated about IP rights in about three years through the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission launched in 2021. Patent applications in India have surged by 116%, rising from 42,763 in 2014-15 to 92,172 in 2023-24. Patent grants have seen an even more remarkable increase of 1,624%, jumping from 5,978 in 2014-15 to 103,057 in 2023-24.

India’s IPR policy has provided a comprehensive IP creation, protection, and commercialisation framework, but continuous evaluation and updating are necessary. The patent rules were amended in 2024 to simplify and streamline the procedure, creating a conducive environment for innovation and IP protection. A certification of inventorship was introduced to enhance the patenting ecosystem by formally recognising inventors’ efforts. The frequency of filing ‘working statements of patents’ was reduced from once a year to once every three years to lessen administrative burden and reduce compliance costs.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.