India’s growing influence in the global innovation and intellectual property (IP) landscape has been highlighted in the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report. The country’s impressive performance across key IP categories—patents, trademarks, and industrial designs—signals its emergence as a powerful global player in innovation. The 2024 WIPO report underscores India’s remarkable strides in IP filings, further solidifying its position as a global leader in intellectual property.
India’s Growth in Patent Filings: A top 6 global player
India has made remarkable strides in global patent applications, securing the 6th position in the 2024 World Intellectual Property Indicators report, with 64,480 patent filings in 2023. This impressive achievement places India alongside leading intellectual property powerhouses like China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. The country’s rise in the global rankings reflects its broad and diverse economy, ranging from agriculture to high-tech sectors like pharmaceuticals, information technology, and renewable energy. This growth highlights India’s growing influence in global innovation and IP.
India’s rapid advancement in intellectual property is particularly evident in its performance in patent filings. The country recorded a remarkable 15.7 per cent increase in patent applications in 2023, the fastest among the top 20 global economies. Notably, India’s residents accounted for over half of all patent filings (55.2per cent), marking a significant milestone. The Indian Patent Office granted 149.4 per cent more patents in 2023 compared to the previous year, demonstrating the rapid development of the nation’s IP ecosystem. This growth is further reflected in a steady increase in industrial design applications, which rose by 36.4 per cent, showing a rising focus on product design and manufacturing within the country.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation report also highlights India’s expanding influence in trademark and industrial design applications. India ranked 4th globally in trademark filings, with a 6.1 per cent increase in 2023. The majority of these filings (nearly 90 per cent) were made by residents, driven by key sectors like Health, Agriculture, and Clothing. India’s trademark office now holds the second-largest number of active registrations worldwide, with over 3.2 million trademarks in force. This underscores the country’s robust position in global brand protection and IP management.
Between 2018 and 2023, India’s patent, trademark, and industrial design applications grew significantly, with patent filings more than doubled and trademark filings increasing by 60 per cent. These figures demonstrate India’s growing emphasis on IP and innovation. The country’s patent-to-GDP ratio has also seen substantial improvement, rising from 144 to 381 in the past decade, further indicating the close link between India’s economic expansion and its evolving IP activity. The WIPO report emphasises that India’s strong IP performance is a testament to its increasing role as a global innovation leader, bolstered by government initiatives to foster domestic innovation.
Industrial Design Applications: A surge in creativity and manufacturing innovation
India has witnessed a remarkable 36.4 per cent increase in industrial design applications in 2023, signalling a growing emphasis on creativity and design innovation across various industries. This surge highlights the country’s shift towards not just manufacturing but also product development, with an increasing focus on blending functionality and aesthetics. The rise in design applications is a direct reflection of India’s evolving capabilities in developing value-added products that meet both domestic and global market demands.
The primary sectors driving this growth are textiles and accessories, tools and machines, and health and cosmetics. These industries account for nearly 50 per cent of all industrial design filings, showcasing India’s strength in traditional sectors like textiles, as well as emerging ones such as health and cosmetics. The integration of design thinking in these sectors is enhancing India’s ability to cater to modern consumer preferences, combining innovation with India’s deep cultural and manufacturing roots.
This surge in industrial design filings is a crucial indicator of how India’s manufacturing sector is evolving. There is a clear shift from traditional mass production to creating products that prioritise design excellence, user experience, and functionality. This transformation is making India a more attractive destination for high-value, design-driven industries, positioning it as a global manufacturing hub with a keen eye on both aesthetics and production efficiency.
When compared to global trends, India’s growth in industrial design applications stands out. While global leaders like China and the United States continue to dominate in patents and trademarks, India’s rise in design filings suggests its increasing competitiveness in industrial design. This trend is in line with the global shift towards recognising industrial design as a key strategic asset for enhancing product differentiation, driving innovation, and contributing to overall economic growth.
Trademark Filings: Securing India’s place as a brand protection leader
India’s impressive performance in global trademark filings highlights its growing importance in the realm of intellectual property. In 2023, the country ranked 4th globally in trademark filings, with a notable 6.1 per cent increase from the previous year. This surge reflects India’s increasing emphasis on brand protection as a vital component of business strategy. As both domestic and international businesses continue to expand, the role of trademarks in safeguarding brand identity and ensuring consumer trust has become even more critical. India’s upward trajectory in trademark filings underscores its development as a key player in the global market.
The dominance of resident filings in India is another notable trend, with nearly 90 per cent of trademark applications originating from Indian residents. This shift indicates a growing awareness among Indian businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups about the importance of intellectual property in protecting their innovations. As more Indian companies turn to the trademark system, there is a clear indication that the country’s business ecosystem is becoming more IP-savvy, thus ensuring the long-term viability and growth of homegrown brands.
India’s robust trademark landscape is further exemplified by its position as the second-largest holder of active trademark registrations globally, with over 3.2 million trademarks in force. This considerable volume of active registrations illustrates a dynamic and competitive domestic marketplace where businesses are continually striving to protect their intellectual property. As India’s economy becomes more innovation-driven, the growing number of trademark registrations reflects the significant role intellectual property plays in securing a competitive advantage both within the country and on the international stage.
Sector-specific trends also shed light on the driving forces behind India’s trademark filings. Sectors such as Health, Agriculture, and Clothing emerged as the top contributors to trademark applications, accounting for 21.9 per cent, 15.3 per cent, and 12.8 per cent, respectively. These figures demonstrate India’s leadership in industries like pharmaceuticals, food production, and fashion, which have gained global recognition for their quality and innovation. As demand for Indian products increases worldwide, trademarks serve as crucial tools for maintaining brand equity and ensuring that Indian businesses retain their competitive edge in increasingly crowded international markets.
India’s Contribution to Global IP Trends
India’s surge in IP filings contributes significantly to the global increase in intellectual property activity. In 2023, a record 3.55 million patent applications were filed worldwide, with India playing a key role in this growth. The rise in resident filings across patents, trademarks, and industrial designs reflects a broader global trend of strengthening local innovation ecosystems, a shift that is particularly evident in emerging markets like India.
The role of Government initiatives in driving innovation
India’s intellectual property growth is significantly propelled by government initiatives like the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy. Launched in 2016, this policy aims to enhance IP awareness, strengthen the ecosystem, and foster innovation by providing better access to IP services and protection mechanisms. By covering all types of intellectual property—including patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs, and geographical indications—the policy strives to create a robust and efficient IP environment. A key feature of the policy is the modernisation and digitisation of IP offices, streamlining workflows to reduce processing times and improve efficiency in handling applications. Moreover, initiatives like the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) have expanded IP awareness, targeting educational institutions and businesses. This approach has been complemented by the creation of Technology Innovation Support Centres (TISC) in universities to facilitate IP filings and promote the commercialisation of patents.
The government’s support for intellectual property is also evident through the Scheme for Pedagogy & Research in IPRs for Holistic Education and Academia (SPRIHA), which integrates IPR education into India’s higher learning institutions. By establishing IPR Chairs in universities, the initiative facilitates specialised research, teaching, and training, allowing faculty and students to explore the role of IP in driving innovation. Beyond academia, India’s growing startup ecosystem is another catalyst for increased IP activity. Initiatives such as Startup India, Digital India, Make in India, and the Atal Innovation Mission have created a nurturing environment for entrepreneurship, technological advancement, and research. Since its launch in 2016, Startup India has recognised over 1.4 lakh startups, reflecting the increasing role of innovation in India’s economy.
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), also launched in 2016, plays a crucial role in shaping India’s innovation landscape. With a focus on fostering a culture of problem-solving and entrepreneurship, AIM has established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools and incubated more than 3,500 startups through Atal Incubation Centres. These efforts have not only encouraged young innovators but also created more than 32,000 jobs within the innovation ecosystem. Collectively, these initiatives are contributing to a more dynamic, IP-driven economy, underscoring the government’s commitment to transforming India into a global hub for innovation and intellectual property.
India’s Global Innovation Index (GII) milestone
India’s innovation journey is not only reflected in its IP filings but also in its performance in the Global Innovation Index 2024. India has made remarkable progress, jumping to 39th place globally from 81st in 2015. This leap underscores the country’s growing capabilities in innovation, driven by a combination of strong policies, strategic investments in R&D, and a thriving startup ecosystem. India now ranks 1st among lower-middle-income economies and 1st among 10 economies in Central and Southern Asia.
India’s ascendance as a Global Innovation Hub
India’s stellar performance in the 2024 WIPO report and the GII ranking showcases the country’s rapid evolution into a global innovation powerhouse. With significant advancements in patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, India is solidifying its place as a key player in the global IP landscape. As the country continues to scale up its innovation capabilities, supported by a strong policy framework and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, India is poised to maintain its leadership in intellectual property, shaping the future of industries worldwide.
India’s stellar performance in the Global Innovation Index 2024 underscores its strategic focus on leveraging innovation as a key driver for economic growth and global competitiveness. The nation’s ability to rapidly climb the rankings reflects its concerted efforts to foster a robust ecosystem that encourages technological advancements, research and development, and entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, India’s sustained focus on innovation will be vital as the country seeks to capitalise on emerging technologies, expand its influence in the global tech industry, and foster inclusive growth. With continued policy support and an evolving talent pool, India is not just poised to maintain its leadership among lower-middle-income economies but also to emerge as a global powerhouse of innovation, driving advancements that could shape the future of industries worldwide.
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