IIT Madras records 417 patents during 2024-25; leads India's HEIs in filings
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
(IIT-M) filed 417 patents during 2024–25, including 298 Indian and 119 international patents. Additionally, the institute filed 39 designs, six copyrights, and one trademark, bringing the total IP filings to 463 for the year.
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A release said that, in 2024, inventions were filed across key sectors including electronics and communication, energy and environment, mechanical and automotive, healthcare and medical devices, robotics and automation, and materials and manufacturing. The institute is also actively filing patents in emerging and high-impact fields such as energy and battery innovations, microfluidic technologies, healthcare and assistive applications, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
"IIT Madras has been leading in IP filings among academic institutions in the country as it understands the significance of protecting innovations that will fuel the industries of tomorrow. The transfer of technology to industry was also scaled up in recent times," said Prof Manu Santhanam, dean (ICSR), IITM.
IITM said in 2024–25, the technology transfer office successfully licensed more than 30 IPs/patents to various companies including Tunga Aerospace, OEG, AspenTech, Ciena, Rural-Mandi, InsituMicron, Jahen & Jos, Envitran, and Zemblance.
"The institute has been strongly promoting IP-backed and deep research-based startups that are disrupting various spheres, from space to quantum, through various bodies including the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the IIT Madras Incubation Cell," said prof Prabhu Rajagopal, advisor (IPM Cell) and head, School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IITM.
Between 2020 and 2024, IIT Madras filed 713 Indian and 310 international patents.
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In the last five years, it transferred tech to startups, MSMEs, and MNCs through licensing deals worth 28 crore. The most significant among these was the 5G RAN sub-system technology transferred to Tejas Networks (TATA Group), the institute said.
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