Patent fee for educational institutions reduced by 80 per cent

In yet another significant push towards Mission Aatmanirbhar Bharat(Self Reliant India), The government has drastically reduced the registration fee for patent filing and prosecution have been extended to educational institutions as well. This 80 percent fee reduction will apply to all recognised educational institutions, public and private, irrespective of whether these institutions are situated in India or anywhere in the world. Centre has notified the amendments to the Patents Rules in this regard.

Commerce and Industry Ministry said India is taking great strides in strengthening its intellectual property ecosystem in recent years. At the time of applying for patents, the innovators have to apply patents in the name of the institutions which have to pay fees for large applicants, which are very high and thus work as a disincentive. In this regard and to encourage greater participation of the educations institutions, official fees payable by them in respect of various acts under the Patents Rules, 2003, have been reduced by way of the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which came into effect on 21st of September.
In order to create a conducive environment for innovation, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has been working towards promoting greater collaboration between industry and academia. This can be achieved by facilitating commercialization of research undertaken in educational institutions.These institutions engage in many research activities, where professors and teachers and students generate several new technologies which need to be patented for facilitating commercialization of the same. High patenting fees present a restrictive element for getting these technologies patented and thus work as a disincentive for development of new technologies.