When students and researchers at IIT Madras come up with a brilliant idea, it doesn’t just stay in a lab notebook or die as a class project. More often than not, it gets protected, polished, and pushed out into the world. One of the most powerful tools to do that? Patents.
Why Should You Patent Your Work?
At IITM, ideas come fast, and breakthroughs even faster. But what makes an idea yours is when it’s legally protected. Here’s why getting a patent is worth your time:
- Exclusive Rights: Patents give you the legal right to prevent others from making or selling your invention for 20 years (for utility patents).
- Stronger Market Position: It sets you apart from the competition and opens up opportunities for startup funding, licensing, or even spin-offs.
- Monetisation: You can license your patent to industries or companies and earn royalties.
- Defensive Shield: A strong patent portfolio can protect you during infringement disputes.
- Contribution to Science: Filing a patent helps in the wider dissemination of technical knowledge, pushing future innovations forward.
The Patent Scene at IITM
In FY 2023–24, IIT Madras was granted 435 patents. More than double the number from the previous year, marking a major milestone as the institute officially achieved its ambitious target of “One Patent a Day.” These intellectual property filings reflect a wide spectrum of innovation, covering clean energy, healthcare, advanced materials, electronics, and artificial intelligence. From lab-grown diamonds and microneedle arrays to power generators harnessing tidal energy, the inventions emerging from IITM continue to be as diverse as they are impactful.
How to Apply for a Patent from IIT Madras
So you’ve got an invention. What now?
- Document it: Write down everything. Problem, solution, how it works, diagrams, etc.
- Fill the Invention Disclosure Form (IDF): This starts the official process. You can get this from the Intellectual Property Management (IPM) Cell at IC&SR.
- Initial Review: The IPM Cell will assess your idea for originality and patentability.
- Drafting the Patent: With the help of patent attorneys and experts, your idea gets converted into a formal patent document.
- Filing: The patent is filed in India or internationally, depending on your strategy.
- Examination and Grant: The IPM Cell handles responses to patent office queries.
- Commercialisation: The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) helps license your patent or even helps you spin off your own startup.
Whom to Contact?
- Dr. Dara Ajay (Head, Technology Transfer Office, IPM Cell, IC&SR)
- Email: headtto-icsr@icsrpis.iitm.ac.in
- Website: https://ipm.icsr.in/ipm/patent-ip
Want to Explore Existing Patents?
You can browse patents by IITM faculty via tools like PatSeer Explorer, Orbit Express, and XLSCOUT via the Central Library’s Patent Resources.
At IIT Madras, innovation is the heartbeat of the campus. Getting your ideas patented is not just about protecting them; it’s about giving them a chance to create real-world impact. So the next time you think you’ve got something worth protecting, don’t hesitate. File it. Own it. Build with it.