The session titled “India’s IPR Policy and Provisions for Startups, Inventors and Innovators: Accelerating the IP Landscape in HEIs” was organised as a MIC-Driven activity by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), AICTE. The session featured Prof. (Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, Government of India, who delivered an insightful presentation on the significance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem and promoting research, entrepreneurship, and startup development.
The session commenced with an overview of India’s rapidly evolving Intellectual Property ecosystem and the importance of creating awareness regarding intellectual property among students, researchers, innovators, startups, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The speaker highlighted that intellectual property has become a strategic asset for organisations, enabling innovators to safeguard their ideas while encouraging creativity, research, and technological advancement.
The discussion touched upon India’s National IPR Policy and its role in shaping patent filing trends across the country, along with the growing contribution of higher education institutions to India’s overall IP output. The speaker also spoke about key government initiatives such as KAPILA and the Startup Intellectual Property Protection (SIP) programme, which support students and researchers in filing and protecting their inventions.
A significant part of the session was dedicated to the provisions and support available for startups and innovators. The speaker explained various government initiatives aimed at simplifying patent filing procedures, encouraging innovation-driven entrepreneurship, supporting technology commercialisation, and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and startups. The importance of establishing institutional mechanisms for intellectual property management within Higher Education Institutions was also emphasised.
The session concluded with the speaker encouraging participants to view intellectual property not merely as a legal requirement but as an essential strategic resource that enhances the value of innovation and strengthens India’s position in the global knowledge economy. Overall, the session provided valuable insights into India’s Intellectual Property framework and motivated participants to engage more actively in research, innovation, and the protection of intellectual assets.