Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, reiterated the government’s commitment to bolstering India’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem through legislative changes, administrative reforms, and new initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and research.
Speaking at the National Intellectual Property (IP) Awards 2024, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Wednesday, Goyal said, “This is the sangam of tradition and technology. Innovation has always been in our DNA. We are very proud that ‘zero’ originated from India. Chess, too, is now recognized as having originated from our ancient tradition of Chaturanga. Innovation will define India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).”
Goyal underscored the crucial role of innovation in propelling India’s transformation into a developed nation. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to strengthening the country’s IP framework through legislative reforms, administrative improvements, and initiatives designed to promote research and development (R&D), which he identified as key to building a resilient, technology-driven economy. “Innovation will define India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation,” Goyal said.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to support scientific advancements, Goyal announced continued backing through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), which fosters collaboration between the government, private sector, and academia. He also celebrated India’s rise in the Global Innovation Index, moving from 81st in 2015 to 39th at present, and praised the substantial increase in patent grants and trademark filings. India now ranks sixth globally in trademark filings, with nearly 100,000 patents granted last year.
Special measures such as an 80% fee reduction for women entrepreneurs, startups, and MSMEs were also noted, alongside the establishment of a new IP office building in Dwarka, designed to house over 750 officers, further improving the efficiency of IP application processing. Goyal advocated for the adoption of modern technologies, including AI and data analytics, in trademark searches and stressed the importance of robust copyright protections to safeguard innovation.
In his address, Goyal also called for judicial support in handling IP-related cases, proposing the formation of specialized IP benches in High Courts and the introduction of internships for law students to engage with the IP ecosystem.
The National IP Awards recognized outstanding contributions across 13 categories, honouring top patents, designs, and IP achievements by individuals, companies, academic institutions, and MSMEs. Special Citations and WIPO-linked awards were also presented to celebrate exceptional accomplishments in the intellectual property space.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, was attended by Delhi High Court Justice Prathiba Maninder Singh and other prominent dignitaries. This year’s WIPO IP Enterprises Trophy winners included Jio Platforms Limited and Tata Steel Limited, further highlighting India’s leadership in leveraging intellectual property for business growth.
