Summary
The post examines how a large multinational company with an R&D centre in India sought to enhance its invention output and intellectual property practices. The company aimed to increase both the quality and quantity of inventions, raise IP awareness among engineers, and establish an effective in-house IP team. Through a comprehensive IP audit, employee training, and the institution of tailored processes, the company uncovered 148 potential inventions, significantly increased disclosures, and set up streamlined IP operations. The result was a threefold rise in invention disclosures and the establishment of an efficient, transparent patent process. This case demonstrates the impact of structured IP management in a research-driven environment.
Nature of the company: A large multi-national company with an R and D center in India
Why they approached us:
- Wanted to improve the quality, and number of inventions coming out of their Indian R & D center;
- Wanted to spread IP awareness among their engineers/scientists, and build some basic skills such as patent searching, disclosure drafting, and so on;
- Wanted to set up an in-house IP team, and institute processes that suit specific Indian circumstances.
What did we do:
- Performed a comprehensive IP Audit/Mining exercise to accomplish two objectives:
- Uncover potential IP not disclosed earlier by inventors; and
- To study the R & D processes, culture, and employee mind set.
- Organized a series of awareness programs across divisions to build IP knowledge and skills;
- Organized boot camps for specific personnel nominated by the company for the IP team.
- Devised processes/mechanisms for identifying inventions, improving transparency in the evaluation process, and taking shortlisted inventions for filing to IP attorneys.
Impact:
- About 148 potential inventions were uncovered, and 36 went for filing.
- The number of invention disclosures improved by three fold.
- The in-house IP Team to co-ordinate internal IP activities was set up within a month.
- An efficient, and transparent idea disclosure, assessment, and IP/patent process was set up.
