World Intellectual Property Day 2025: IIT Madras files 417 Patents in 2024-25

IIT Madras

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has filed 417 patents in the 2024-25 financial year, surpassing its target of ‘One Patent a Day’ set by Director Prof. V. Kamakoti. This includes 298 Indian Patents and 119 international patents. In addition to patents, the institute filed 39 designs, 6 copyrights, and 1 trademark, bringing the total number of intellectual property (IP) filings to 463 for the year.

This significant achievement comes as IIT Madras continues to lead the way in IP filings among academic institutions, reflecting its robust innovation ecosystem. The institute has been actively filing patents in various high-impact areas such as energy and battery innovations, microfluidic technologies, healthcare applications, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Notably, in 2024, numerous patents were filed in fields like electronics and communication, mechanical and automotive engineering, and materials and manufacturing.

In the last five years, IIT Madras has successfully transferred several cutting-edge technologies to industry partners, including startups, MSMEs, and MNCs, generating licensing deals worth around ?28 crore. The largest transfer involved the 5G RAN sub-system technology to Tejas Networks, a subsidiary of the TATA Group.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, expressed pride in the institute’s accomplishments, highlighting the importance of intellectual property for India's aspirations to become a technology superpower by 2047. He emphasized the rise in international patent filings as a sign of the institute's growing global presence in the innovation landscape.

Further elaborating on the success, Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (ICSR), stated that IIT Madras understands the significance of protecting innovations and facilitating their transfer to industry to fuel the economy. The institute’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) has played a key role in expanding the impact of these innovations, with more than 30 patents licensed to companies like Tunga Aerospace, Ciena, and AspenTech during 2024-25.

As part of its continued focus on innovation, IIT Madras has also promoted deep-tech startups through various support bodies, including the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the IIT Madras Incubation Cell. The institute’s efforts reflect its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation that drives technological advancements for India’s future. This achievement becomes particularly significant as the world celebrates World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2025.

For more details on IIT Madras' contributions to the field of innovation and intellectual property, the institute’s IPM Cell continues to play a pivotal role in guiding researchers and faculty through the process of patent filing, technology transfer, and licensing.