Simplifying the reimbursement
process and introducing features such as bulk data uploads in common
formats could make the system more user-friendly
Despite
an existing talent pool in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), a
significant number of inventions and ideas have remained unprotected due
to a lack of awareness about patent filing. To address this gap, the
Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness (KAPILA)
programme was initiated by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell
(MIC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2020
in memory of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, which has led to rise
in patent filing by 39%.
Aimed
at creating awareness around Intellectual Property (IP) and providing
financial and legal support to HEIs for filing patents, the KAPILA
programme has, over the past five years, helped boost the country’s
innovation landscape. Data from the ministry indicates that over 10,000
patent applications have been facilitated under KAPILA so far, with more
than 1,300 HEIs, including IIT-BHU, Varanasi, IIT Kanpur, and the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, actively participating in
IP literacy drives and filing processes. The initiative has also seen
participation from private affiliated colleges, deemed universities, and
state institutions.
Abhay
Jere, vice-chairman, AICTE, says, “Since its inception, the scheme has
enabled thousands of students and faculty members to secure their
innovations, with a marked increase in patent applications from HEIs. In
2020, out of 57,512 patents filed in India, only 829 were from HEIs.
This low number was likely due to limited awareness about the importance
of patents and the high filing and legal fees at the time, around Rs
28,000, which many institutions could not afford. However, in 2024-25,
India saw a total of 1,05,157 patent filings, with HEIs contributing
33,674 of them. This marked a significant rise compared to 2020.”
Click here:https://www.educationtimes.com/article/campus-beat-college-life/99738401/aicte-kapila-initiative-leads-to-39-surge-in-patent-filings-across-universities-in-5-years
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