Four-fold Increase in Number of Patents Filed by Women in India: Himani Pande, Joint Secretary, DPIIT
17 May 2023: At, FICCI Conference on ‘Empowering Women Inventors, Creators, and Entrepreneurs Through Intellectual Property in India’ coinciding with the World IP Day 2023, Ms. Himani Pande, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, highlighted the four-fold increase in number of patents filed by women.
Emphasising the growth in women-led patent filings, Ms. Pande noted, “Over the last year, 7,698 patent applications were filed by women at India Patent Office.” She attributed this increase to various government initiatives designed to support and incentivise women entrepreneurs and innovators in innovation and intellectual property.
Ms. Pande also mentioned government’s efforts to expedite patent applications filed by women through amendment rules of 2019, as well as recognise their participation in innovation through the National Intellectual Property Awards.
While acknowledging the progress made, Ms. Pande urged the need for continued efforts, stating, “We should be looking at a far greater levelling field.” Government of India remains committed to creating a sustainable environment for women to participate and lead in intellectual property and creativity, ensuring their vital contributions are recognised and celebrated.
In his keynote address, Dr. Unnat Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks, Intellectual Property Office, Government of India, highlighted women’s crucial role in the country’s innovation ecosystem. Dr Pandit also shared some impressive statistics to illustrate the growth of intellectual property in India, including a more than 400% jump in the number of patents granted since 2016. In addition, he emphasised the role of women in building India’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He mentioned that 8% of startups are led by women or have a woman as one of the directors. As India moves towards a technology and knowledge-driven economy, the role of women in fostering innovation, enterprise creation, and creativity is of utmost importance. Dr Pandit cited several examples of women using intellectual property tools to protect and sustain traditional knowledge and livelihoods.
