Significantly, India has also drastically reduced the average patent pendency by 15 months to 53 months in 2023.The maximum reduction has been achieved in the fields of chemistry and polymer, where the average time in patent approvals is 30 months. A higher number of patents being granted, along with reduced pendency signifies an efficient ecosystem for recognising and protecting inventive ideas, experts told TOI.
Over the last few years, delays in patent examination and subsequent approvals had created multiple obstacles for innovators. The share of resident Indians in the Indian Patent Office (IPO) filings among single inventors, jumped from 22.9% in the pre-2014 era to 35.5% post 2014, the analysis that tracked the last two decades said.
“Research advancements in rapidly growing industries are primarily driven by intellectual property, particularly in areas of computers, communications, and biomedicals, which are experiencing increased momentum under influence of Digital India. Mechanical engineering has been the foremost field for IP creation leading to innovation, accounting for 20% of the total for the past twenty years, closely followed by chemical Science at approximately 16%. While considering patent filings across all sectors, Indians are taking lead in fields of computers, biomedicals and traditional domains of chemistry and mechanical engineering,” Unnat P Pandit, controller general of patents, designs and trade marks, said.
According to report, in the 2014-23, educational and scientific institutions doubled their share in innovations to 31%. In 2004-13, companies had 50% share, followed by individuals at 35%, and educational and scientific institutions had 15% share.
“Reduced patent pendency is an indicator of the constant improvements being brought into the system (inducting more professionals from various technical backgrounds and introducing modernised infrastructure). More patents being granted suggests a culture of innovation and a willingness to protect intellectual property in a knowledge driven economy. Ideally, a balance between these two is desirable,” Suhrita Majumdar, partner, S Majumdar & Co, said.
As per the data, 8.4 lakh patents have been filed in the country till December 2023.