India’s ascent in the global intellectual property arena

India has emerged as a formidable player in the global intellectual property (IP) landscape. The World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), reveals India’s outstanding achievements in patent, trademark, and industrial design applications. For the first time, India secured a position among the top 10 global economies in all three major IP categories, marking its growing significance as a hub of innovation and creativity.

The WIPO’s annual WIPI report is a critical barometer for tracking trends in global intellectual property activity. The 2024 report emphasizes the resilience of innovation, even amidst global economic challenges. With 3.55 million patent applications filed worldwide in 2023—a 2.7% increase from the previous year—countries like India are playing a crucial role in driving this growth. India’s IP performance is particularly noteworthy for its consistency, resilience, and alignment with national economic priorities.

India’s rise is not merely quantitative; it reflects qualitative enhancements in the country’s innovation ecosystem. Driven by government initiatives such as the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, Start-Up India, and the Atal Innovation Mission, the nation is witnessing an era of unprecedented creativity, research, and technological advancements.

India’s record growth in patent applications

Among the top 20 origins worldwide, India saw the greatest growth in patent applications in 2023, with a 15.7% increase. This was the fifth year of double-digit increase in a row. India is currently sixth in the world for patent filings, with 64,480 applications submitted. Interestingly, residents submitted 55.2% of these applications, demonstrating a rise in domestic innovation capacity.

The improved effectiveness of India's patent office is demonstrated by the 149.4% increase in patent grants in 2023, which coincides with the rise in patent applications. A further indication of the increasing incorporation of intellectual property into India's economic structure is the patent-to-GDP ratio, which increased dramatically from 144 in 2013 to 381 in 2023.

For instance, IIT Madras created and patented a low-cost water purifying system in 2023 to solve issues in rural areas. The innovation showed how Indian academic institutions may use intellectual property to solve societal problems.

Several concepts for energy storage systems and high-efficiency solar panels have been patented by Tata Power Solar, a pioneer in the renewable energy industry. These developments support India's aspirational green energy objectives.

India’s industrial design applications on the rise

India's growing emphasis on creativity and manufacturing innovation is reflected in the country's industrial design submissions, which increased by an astounding 36.4% in 2023. Textiles and accessories, machinery and tools, and cosmetics and health care are the main industries propelling this expansion.

This increase positions India as a leader in value-added sectors and is consistent with the nation's emphasis on superior product design and manufacture. India is increasing its competitiveness in the global market and expanding its manufacturing base by utilising industrial design as a strategic asset.

Industrial design applications for smart gadgets including speakers, smartwatches, and headphones have been regularly filed by Indian brands like boAt and Noise. These items give these businesses a competitive edge on a worldwide scale because they are designed with both usefulness and aesthetics in mind.

India’s strength in trademark filings

In terms of trademark filings, India came in fourth place worldwide in 2023, up 6.1% from the year before. Indian citizens accounted for about 90% of these registrations, indicating a strong domestic emphasis on brand protection. Important industries that dominate trademark applications include health (21.9%), agriculture (15.3%), and apparel (12.8%), highlighting India's prowess in food production, fashion, and pharmaceuticals. With more than 3.2 million registered trademarks, India now has the second-highest number of active trademark registrations globally. India's standing as a global leader in brand protection is cemented by this outstanding accomplishment.

Drivers of India’s IP growth

1. Government initiatives: India’s progress in intellectual property is deeply rooted in government policies and initiatives. The National IPR Policy, introduced in 2016, provides a comprehensive framework to foster IP awareness, strengthen the IP ecosystem, and encourage innovation. Key measures under the policy include:

• Modernization of IP Offices: Enhanced digitization and streamlined workflows have significantly reduced processing times for applications.
• Awareness Campaigns: Initiatives like the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) have educated businesses and academic institutions about the importance of IP.
• Support for Startups: Programs such as Start-Up India and Make in India have bolstered entrepreneurship, resulting in a surge in IP filings from emerging businesses.

2. Rise of the startup ecosystem: India’s vibrant startup ecosystem is a major contributor to the country’s IP growth. With over 1,49,414 startups officially recognized by the government as of September 2024, India has become a global hotspot for innovation. These startups, spanning sectors from technology to agriculture, are leveraging IP to protect their inventions and establish a competitive edge in global markets.

3. Academic and research contributions: Indian universities and research institutions are increasingly filing patents, reflecting a cultural shift toward innovation in academia. Programs like the Scheme for Pedagogy & Research in IPRs for Holistic Education and Academia (SPRIHA) are integrating IP education into higher learning, fostering a generation of IP-savvy researchers and entrepreneurs.

Sectoral impact of India’s IP growth

India’s surge in industrial design filings is transforming its manufacturing sector. The emphasis on aesthetics, functionality, and user experience is enabling industries to move beyond basic production to design-driven manufacturing. This evolution positions India as a global manufacturing hub, catering to both domestic and international markets.

• Pharmaceuticals: India is known as the "pharmacy of the world," with numerous pharmaceutical companies focusing on developing new drugs and formulations. The sector accounted for a significant portion of patent filings due to ongoing research into generics and novel drugs.
• Information Technology: With a booming IT sector that includes software development, cybersecurity solutions, and artificial intelligence (AI), Indian companies are increasingly filing patents related to software innovations and technological advancements.
• Biotechnology: The biotechnology sector is rapidly growing in India thanks to advancements in agricultural biotechnology and healthcare innovations.
• Renewable Energy: As India aims to enhance its renewable energy capacity significantly by 2030, innovations related to solar energy technologies have become increasingly important.

In conclusions, an incredible success story of tenacity, creativity, and strategic planning is India's ascent in the world's intellectual property rankings. A conscious move towards a knowledge-based economy, bolstered by strong regulations and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, is shown in the rise of patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. India's future in the international intellectual property arena seems highly bright. The nation is well-positioned to have a significant impact on the shape of intellectual property with continued investments in R&D, infrastructure, and education.