Lok Sabha Question No. 784 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Patent Applied for Research
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.784 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7/2/2018

## PATENT APPLIED FOR RESEARCH

## 784. SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for lesser number of patents applied as far as research is concerned in the country as compared to China, UK and USA;
- (b) whether the condition is same for patents certified and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps the Government proposes to take to improve the performance;
- (d) the  manner  in  which  it  would  be  monitored  and  whether  continuous  changes  in  policy  would  be made till we reach the stage comparable to China, UK and USA; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

- (a)  & (b):  The reason for lesser number of patents applied in India could be due to the provision of less Gross  Expenditure  on  Research  and  Development  (GERD)  and  lesser  number  of  scientific  and  technical manpower devoted to S&T activities as compared to other countries such as China, UK and USA. As per UNESCO data on S&T accessed on 31.01.2018  for the number of full time researchers in US and China is around 12 lakhs or more, whereas in India and UK it is around 2 lakhs in 2014 (latest data available). In terms of R&D Expenditure (GERD in PPP$) China and US expenditure is in 12 digit, whereas in India and UK it is in 11 digit. Patent filing data by residents of China and US are within the range of 2 to 3 lakhs patents per year, whereas UK and India are within the range of 12 to 15 thousands only (comparable). This correlates well with number of R&D manpower and investment in the R&D. Patents granted  is subset of patents filed.
- (c)  to  (e):  The  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  patent  filing  and monitoring  the  performance with  regards  to  safeguarding  the  Intellectual  Property  Rights  (IPR's)  in  the Country:
- Department of Industrial Policy and promotion (DIPP) has come up with National IPR Policy for enhancing Intellectual Property (IP) output with several action points.
- Massive IPR awareness has been planned by the Government at all levels; school, college, University and Industry.
- Government has announced 10% tax regime for patent royalties to enhance patent output.
- Government has created  support  system  for  Start-ups  for  filing  of  patents  where  benefit  of  80% reduction in official fee is provided as well as reimbursement of patent agent/attorney expenditure up-to Rs. 25,000/- paid to start-ups through Patent Office by DIPP
- Reducing the patent filing fee for small entities by 50%
- Strengthening the patent facilitation mechanism in different departments.

(Source:  UNESCO Data on S&T accessed on 31.01.2018)

********