Summary
The Department of Information Technology, MCIT, has introduced the SIP-EIT scheme to support Indian SMEs and technology startups in obtaining international patent protection in electronics and IT. The scheme provides financial reimbursement of up to Rs. 15 lakhs or 50 percent of eligible expenses for each invention, covering various costs associated with international patent filings. Applicants must meet specific prerequisites, including registration in India and holding a DSIR certificate for in-house R&D. Applications are only accepted for inventions first filed in India and must be prosecuted by an experienced registered patent agent. Successful applicants may be required to present their inventions and commercialization plans before receiving reimbursement.
Department of Information Technology, MCIT has introduced a scheme, known as SIP-EIT (Support International Patent Protection in Electronics and IT),in order to provide financial support to Small and Medium Enterprises /Technology Start-Up companies for international patent filing in the area of information technology and electronics. International patent filing includes the PCT(Patent Cooperation Treaty) route or direct filing of the application in any country. However, the applicant has to justify his reasons for choosing a particular country.
The prosecution costs involved in international patent filings such as attorney fee, professional fee, statutory fee of patent office, examination fee, search fee etc shall be reimbursed upto Rs.15 lakhs or 50% of the total expenses incurred on filing each invention whichever is less.
The Department of Information Technology, MCIT has provided the details for applying for the scheme in SIP-EIT brochure.
Few of the prerequisites to apply for the scheme as mentioned in the SIP-EIT brochure are as follows:
- Small or micro small and medium enterprises / Technology Start-Up unites registered in India
- The investment in plant and machinery should not exceed INR 10 corers in case the enterprises are engaged in the manufacture or production of goods OR if the enterprises are a service provider investment in plant and machinery should not exceed INR 5 corers.
- The enterprises applying for the scheme has to provide In house R&D certificate from Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR) Technology OR Technology Incubation enterprises registered as companies with support under some government scheme.
The application for the scheme shall be acceptable only if the patent application is filed and prosecuted by a registered patent agent having 5 year experience in the handling international patent applications.
