Hindu Editorial Analysis: 20-November-2024
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently released its World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) Report 2024, which highlights key trends in global intellectual property (IP) filings. The report shows significant growth in patent applications and underscores India’s increasing prominence as an innovation hub.
Key Global Trends in IP Filings
In 2023, global patent filings grew by 2.7%, reaching a total of 3.55 million applications. Leading economies like China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and India were the primary drivers of this growth. India, in particular, showed impressive progress across several IP categories, reflecting its growing innovation capacity.
India’s Remarkable Growth in IP Filings
India’s performance in the IP space has been outstanding, with notable increases across patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.
- Patents: India saw a 15.7% increase in patent applications in 2023, the highest growth rate among the top 20 countries. India now ranks 6th globally with 64,480 patent filings.
- Trademarks: India also ranked 4th in global trademark filings, with a 6.1% rise. Around 90% of these were filed by Indian residents.
- Industrial Designs: Industrial design filings surged by 36.4%, driven by sectors such as textiles, health, and tools.
For the first time, over half of India’s patent applications (55.2%) were filed by residents, indicating a rise in domestic innovation.
India’s Global Innovation Ranking
India’s success is further reflected in its ranking on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, where it secured 39th place, up from 81st in 2015. This improvement highlights India’s strong research and development (R&D) investments, startup culture, and government policies aimed at promoting innovation.
India also ranks 33rd globally in innovation outputs and stands 7th in intangible asset intensity. Additionally, cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi are listed among the top 100 Science & Technology clusters worldwide.
Economic Impact and Government Support
The rise in India’s innovation rankings has contributed significantly to the economy. It has led to job creation, higher productivity, and overall economic development. The Indian government has implemented various policies to support innovation, such as the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy and initiatives like Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. These efforts have made India an attractive destination for IP filings and have boosted its innovation ecosystem.
- Technology Innovation Support Centres (TISC): These centres have been set up in universities to promote IP filings and patent commercialization.
- IPR Education: The SPRIHA scheme aims to integrate IP education in higher learning institutions to create a more IP-aware society.
Challenges Ahead for India’s IPR Regime
Despite the progress, India still faces some challenges in its IP landscape. These include:
- Patent Backlog and Delays: The backlog of patent applications can hinder innovation and discourage inventors.
- Enforcement of IPR Laws: While India has strong IPR laws, enforcement is inconsistent, leading to problems like piracy and counterfeiting.
- Awareness Issues: Many creators remain unaware of how to protect their intellectual property.
Important Points:
- Global Growth in IP Filings (2023):
- Total of 3.55 million patent applications filed worldwide, a 2.7% increase from 2022.
- Growth driven by countries like China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and India.
- India’s Strong Performance in IP Filings:
- Patents: 15.7% increase in patent filings, ranking 6th globally with 64,480 applications.
- Trademarks: Ranked 4th globally, with a 6.1% increase; 90% of filings by Indian residents.
- Industrial Designs: 36.4% rise, driven by sectors like textiles, health, and tools.
- Resident Filings: Over 55% of patent applications filed by residents, showing growing domestic innovation.
- India’s Improved Global Innovation Ranking:
- Ranked 39th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, up from 81st in 2015.
- India ranks 33rd in innovation outputs and 7th in intangible asset intensity.
- Cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi listed among top 100 global Science & Technology clusters.
- Economic Impact of Innovation:
- Innovation-driven growth has contributed to job creation, productivity, and economic development.
- Government policies like Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat have bolstered India’s IP and innovation ecosystem.
- Key Government Initiatives:
- National IPR Policy and schemes like National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) support IP growth.
- Technology Innovation Support Centres (TISC) established in universities for patent commercialization.
- SPRIHA Scheme: Focus on integrating IP education into higher learning institutions.
- Challenges in India’s IPR System:
- Patent Backlog and Delays: Patent processing times hinder innovation.
- Enforcement Issues: Inconsistent implementation of IP laws, leading to piracy and counterfeiting.
- Lack of Awareness: Many inventors and creators are unaware of how to protect their IP.
Why In News
Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released its World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) Report 2024, which highlights significant trends and developments in global intellectual property (IP) filings, offering valuable insights into the evolving IP landscape and the growing role of emerging economies like India in shaping global innovation.
MCQs about India’s Rising Role in Global Intellectual Property and Innovation
-
Which country saw the highest growth in patent applications among the top 20 origins in 2023?
A. China
B. India
C. United States
D. Japan
-
What was India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024?
A. 33rd
B. 39th
C. 45th
D. 81st
-
Which of the following is one of the major challenges faced by India’s intellectual property regime?
A. Excessive IP awareness among creators
B. Patent backlog and delays
C. Over-enforcement of IPR laws
D. Lack of innovation in key sectors
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
