Summary
This post presents an analytical review of the Indian Institute of Science’s performance in patent filings over the last five years, based on data from the Indian patent office. Despite its international reputation for research, IISc has averaged fewer than fifty patent applications annually, with limited commercialization success. The discussion compares IISc’s intellectual property journey to other top Indian institutes, noting persistent challenges such as lack of qualified professionals and commercialization resources. The post concludes with a forward-looking perspective on how evolving attitudes and resources may enhance IP management in Indian academia.
Overview
On 9 July 2015, The Hindu reported that the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) had secured a position among the top five research and academic institutions in BRICS countries. The report noted that IISc leads in the number of research publications from an academic institution, with seven Chinese institutions also appearing in the top five. This report provides an account of the institute’s patent filing trends over the five preceding years.
Patent Filing Statistics: 2009–2014
The table below sets out the number of patent applications filed by IISc from 2009–10 to 2013–14, based on data from the annual reports of the Indian Patent Office.
| Year | Number of Applications |
|---|---|
| 2009–2010 | 45 |
| 2010–2011 | 38 |
| 2011–2012 | 14 |
| 2012–2013 | 31 |
| 2013–2014 | 32 |
Institutional Background
The Indian Institute of Science was established in 1909 and formally initiated in 1911. Commonly referred to as the Tata Institute, by virtue of being founded by Tata, the institute was rated the 11th best institution in the world in 2014 and is regarded as the foremost institution in India for scientific and technical education. It houses twenty-nine departments and numerous research centres spanning fields from biology to aerospace.
The Commercialisation Gap
Despite its stature in research publications, IISc has not translated its intellectual property portfolio into commensurate commercial outcomes. Patent filings from the institute have remained below fifty applications per year over the five-year period reviewed. The commercialisation rate has been estimated at less than five per cent of the patent portfolio, reflecting persistent difficulty in taking research to market.
The patent and commercialisation profile of IISc is broadly representative of the Indian Institutes of Technology and other publicly funded research institutes in India. The perceived reasons for this situation include a shortage of qualified IP professionals, limited commercialisation resources, concerns about patent quality, insufficient respect for intellectual property within research institutions, and philosophical barriers to technology transfer. The emergence of a new generation of IP professionals focused on management and commercialisation, combined with a changing outlook among the leadership of research institutions, may mark the beginning of a new era for IISc and comparable institutions in the next decade.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified attorney before acting on any matter discussed here.