IP-Driven Innovation: Fueling Viksit Bharat for Global Impact

India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 goes way beyond just hitting economic benchmarks. It envisions a nation where local ingenuity solves pressing global challenges, powered by a robust intellectual property (IP) ecosys­tem. This article explores how advanc­ing resident-led IP creation positions India as an innovation powerhouse, turning ideas, concepts into domestic solutions to tackle global challenges.

VIKSIT BHARAT TO VIKSIT INNOVATOR

Viksit Bharat@2047 demands more than GDP milestones; it calls for an innovation-led economy spanning agri­culture, digital tech, and green energy. Over half of India’s patent applications now originate from domestic entities, signalling a shift from imitation to origi­nation. This transformation empow­ers ‘Viksit Bharatiya Innovators’. For instance, Molbio Diagnostics’ portable TruNat devices detect tuberculosis rap­idly in remote areas, a breakthrough ex­ported to over 80 countries for combat­ing drug-resistant TB. Such IP-protected tools exemplify how Indian minds ad­dress local health gaps while meeting global needs. Domestic IP filings surged because of startup-friendly schemes like expedited patent examination through amended Patent Rules, fostering con­fidence among innovators. The rise in IP filing wherein 67% applications are by a resident ensures India invents and creates as a wave of problem-solver mindsets who design for their domestic needs but envisage exploring the global market.

IP AS VIKSIT BHARAT’S CURRENCY

Intellectual property converts raw ideas, lab proof of concepts into invest­ible, tradable assets—which essentially demonstrates the power of creation for Viksit Bharat’s ambitions. India now ranks in the global top tier for patents, trademarks, and designs, embedding IP at the heart of its strategy. Patents play a role as ‘currency’ by attracting venture capital and enabling licensing. UPI, India’s Unified Payments Inter­face, revolutionised real-time digital transactions allowing for seamless cross-border, QR-based payments with low fees, inspiring nations like Singa­pore, Qatar, UAE, Bhutan, Mauritius, Nepal wherein UPI has expanded rapidly. France marked its first major entry into Europe and Brazil enabled South America access to UPI gateway, to adopt similar systems for financial inclusion at the grassroots level. Its underlying IP safeguards have turned it into a global export model beyond just the Standard Essential Patents in FinTech.

IP-intensive industries grow faster, creating jobs and exports. By protect­ing innovations early, India monetises homegrown tech, as seen in AI farm platforms like Fasal, which optimise ir­rigation and pest control using satellite data—now expanding to Africa.

LOCAL PROBLEMS, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

India’s scale turns unique challenges into innovation labs for frugal, scalable fixes applicable worldwide. Climate vul­nerabilities, health crises, and agricul­tural pressures yield solutions for emerg­ing markets. Consider affordable clean energy: Husk Power’s solar microgrids power rural India without grids, reduc­ing reliance on diesel—a model repli­cated in Africa for energy access. These address local blackouts while offering blueprints for the Global South. In health, Tata-Johnson & Johnson collab­orations develop low-cost TB vaccines, serving as templates for low-income countries battling airborne diseases. Urbanisation spurs water innovations, like community filtration systems, now eyed for water-stressed regions. Indian agri-tech, such as CropIn’s IoT-driven yield predictions, boosts resilience in Southeast Asia.

IP-DRIVEN LOCAL-TO-GLOBAL PATHWAY

A clear pathway amplifies this: protect domestically, then globalise. File early in India using fast-tracks for startups, securing core IP before scaling via PCT filings. Skyroot Aerospace’s low-cost satellite launchers exemplify this. Pat­ented for reusability, they enable climate monitoring for developing nations, with tech licensed internationally. Strategic jurisdiction filings ensure Indian owner­ship during global expansion. Licensing turns IP into revenue streams. DeHaat’s supply-chain platforms minimise post-harvest losses in India; their IP now supports similar models abroad. Gov­ernment incentives reduce pendency, making India an IP gateway.

STRENGTHENING THE INNOVATION PIPELINE

Raising R&D spend and building state-level clusters are vital. Universities, startups, and firms must co-create IP with commercialisation paths. Clusters in Bengaluru and Hyderabad mirror Silicon Valley, birthing IP like Agnikul’s 3D-printed engines for affordable space access. Integrating IP literacy into cur­ricula equips youth to view patents as tools, not esoterica. Ninjacart’s farmer-buyer platforms thrive here, with IP-pro­tected algorithms cutting waste—scal­able globally. Public funding ties R&D to IP output, ensuring Viksit Bharat’s pipeline flows steadily.

INDIA AS GLOBAL IP HUB

Simplifying IP processes aligns with At­manirbhar Bharat. Tech-enabled ser­vices cut pendency, positioning India for R&D offshoring. Global firms partner with Indian entities for co-owned IP. Aadhaar’s digital ID stack influences African models, with shared IP frame­works. India attracts co-innovation in healthtech, like AI diagnostics revolu­tionising care. As a hub, India hosts IP auctions and licensing exchanges, chan­neling global capital to local innovators.

INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSION

IP drives solutions for climate, pollu­tion, and health. Energy-efficient devices like Agnisumukh’s low-emission burn­ers cut urban air pollution, exportable to polluted cities. Women-led IP in solar pumps empowers rural areas, extending to marginalised creators. TB innova­tions ensure inclusive health tech for the Global South. It’s high time India enabled a second wave of evolution in the 21st century, from Make in India to Invent in India and License to World in core tech sector realising the core India philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumakam’.

In conclusion, Viksit Bharat@2047 hinges on ALIGN: Advancing Local In­novation for Global Needs. By priori­tising resident-led IP protection, India transforms domestic challenges into scalable global solutions—like TruNat diagnostics saving lives worldwide and UPI powering financial inclusion abroad. This IP-driven strategy builds an innovation pipeline, attracts invest­ment, and positions India as a technol­ogy hub. Strengthening R&D clusters, IP literacy, and local work for global gain… pathways ensure inclusive, sus­tainable growth. ALIGN is not option­al—it’s the force multiplier that turns ‘Make in India’ into ‘Invent in India, License to the World’, securing India’s leadership in the 21st-century as a tech­nology and knowledge embedded in­novation economy.

*The writer, a Professor of IP, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Jawaharlal Nehru University, is currently serving with the Govern­ment of India as Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks; Registrar of Copyrights and Geo­graphical Indications.