SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of Science & Technology | Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser
India has emerged as a frontline scientific nation, having climbed from Rank 81 to Rank 38 in the Global Innovation Index. India has now become the world’s 6th largest patent filer, surpassing 64,000 patents. Crucially, more than 55% of these patents are filed by resident Indian innovators. This growth marks a sharp departure from the previous reliance on foreign institutions for research and completion of projects.
This leap demonstrates the emergence of a “most compatible milieu at home,” fueled by sustained policy interventions and incentives over the last decade. It signals a transition from “technology user” to “technology creator” for India, boosting prospects for high-value manufacturing, technology exports and domestic employment in the innovation economy. For policymakers, it underscores the importance of sustaining the momentum through stronger IP-ecosystem infrastructure, simplified patent processing, enhanced industry-academia linkages and commercialisation pathways.
The Minister pointed to landmark achievements, including Chandrayaan-3, the world’s first DNA vaccine, and indigenous antibiotics, as evidence of India’s maturing scientific capacity. The expanding ecosystem, supported by initiatives like the DST’s expos and schemes like Mudra, PM-Svanidhi, and PM-Vishwakarma, is making entrepreneurship more lucrative than traditional dependency on government jobs.
What is a patent filing?→ A patent filing is a formal application submitted to a patent office seeking exclusive rights to an invention. High filing numbers can indicate innovation activity but do not guarantee commercial success or value creation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India ensure that this uptick in filings translates into commercialised innovations, exportable technologies and enhanced value-chain participation, rather than just higher numbers of applications?
Follow the full news here: India emerges as the world’s 6th largest patent filer