India Records 310% Surge In Startup & MSME Patent Filings Over The Past 5 Years

New Delhi, April 25 (KNN) Patent filings by startups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India have increased by 310 percent over the last five years, rising from 1,492 in 2018-19 to 6,120 in 2023-24, according to an official statement on Thursday.

N Ramchander, Joint Controller, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, shared these statistics while addressing an event organized by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). 

He noted that overall patent applications in India have surged by 116 percent, increasing from 42,763 in 2014-15 to 92,172 in 2023-24.

Even more remarkable has been the growth in patent grants, which have increased by 1,624 percent, jumping from 5,978 in 2014-15 to 103,057 in 2023-24. 

Ramchander highlighted a significant shift in the resident and non-resident distribution over the past decade, with the share of resident filings growing substantially from 24.8 percent in 2013 to 60 percent in 2024.

In addition to these statistics, Ramchander reported that the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission, launched in 2021, has successfully educated over 2.4 million students and faculty members across India about intellectual property rights in approximately three years.

India's Intellectual Property Rights policy has established a comprehensive framework for IP creation, protection, and commercialization, though officials acknowledge that continuous evaluation and updates are necessary to maintain effectiveness.

Patent rules were amended in 2024 to simplify and streamline procedures, creating a more conducive environment for innovation and intellectual property protection in India. 

These amendments included the introduction of a certification of inventorship, formally recognizing the contributions of inventors in patented innovations.

The government has also reduced the frequency of filing "working statements of patents" from annually to once every three years, significantly lessening the administrative burden on applicants and reducing compliance costs for innovators.

(KNN Bureau)