Patent Funding in India 2025: Various Government Schemes for Startups, MSMEs, and Researchers

Patent Funding in India 2025: Government Schemes for Startups, MSMEs, Researchers

By
Dr. Sowndarya Somasundaram
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74
Patent Funding in India 2025
Patent Funding in India 2025

A patent is a techno-legal right that protects a new invention giving the inventor exclusive control for a limited period (20 years). If you’re a researcher, startup founder, or MSME innovator seeking funding support to file a patent in India, you’re in the right place to find practical and up-to-date guidance. Government of India offers multiple central, state, and sectoral schemes that reduce patenting costs via fee waivers, reimbursements, and facilitator support, significantly lowering the barrier for innovators to protect their Intellectual Property (IP).​ That’s exactly what India’s current IP ecosystem enables through Startup India’s SIPP support, MSME IPR reimbursements, BIRAC assistance, and proactive state grants designed to turn ideas into protected assets. These schemes are your bridge from prototype to protection—so you can publish, pitch, and commercialize with confidence. This guide brings together the most relevant national and state programs, eligibility must‑knows, and practical steps to help you file early, reduce costs, and protect your competitive edge in 2025.

Patent Funding in India 2025: Government Schemes for Startups, MSMEs, and Researchers

Scheme for Facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP)

Benefits: Government-empaneled facilitators for patents, designs, and trademarks; facilitator fees will be paid by the Indian government; startups pay only reduced statutory fees.​

Eligibility: DPIIT-recognized startups; facilitator fee slabs (e.g., ₹10,000 at filing and disposal for patents) are borne by Indian government.​

Status: Extended for 3 years; active and widely used.​

Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM)

Benefits: National-level IP awareness programs, toolkits, and guides; support to simplify and streamline IP processes; initiatives that promote commercialization and strengthen enforcement capacity across police, customs, and judiciary.​

Eligibility: Open to students, researchers, startups/MSMEs, industry bodies, and enforcement agencies through pan‑India workshops, manuals, and outreach; content and trainings are delivered directly by CIPAM under DPIIT.​

Status: Active national nodal cell under DPIIT implementing the National IPR Policy through ongoing awareness campaigns, industry/MSME outreach, and enforcement training; conducts regular drives, publications, and collaborations.

MSME Innovative Scheme

Benefits: Reimbursement up to ₹1 lakh for Indian patents and up to ₹5 lakh for foreign patents; support also covers trademarks, designs, and GI; IP Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) may get grants.​

Extended supports: Separate program elements include reimbursement for foreign trademark/design registration and IP access fees.

Where to apply: Via MSME portals like mymsme; ensure Udyam registration.​

Support for International Patent Protection in Electronics & Information Technology (SIP-EIT) – MeitY/DeitY

Benefits: Financial support for international patent filings in the electronics and IT (ICTE) sector—up to ₹15 lakh per invention or 50% of total eligible costs (filing, prosecution, and up to grant), whichever is lower.​

Eligibility: Open to MSMEs registered under the MSME Development Act, 2006, or Companies registered under the Companies Act, or Technology incubation enterprises/startups located in an incubation centre/park and registered as a company.​

Time period: Scheme tenure of five years.​

Purpose: To help MSMEs and technology startups file abroad, encourage innovation, build global IP portfolios, and capture opportunities in the ICTE sector.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) – NITI Aayog

Benefits: Grants and support for innovation and entrepreneurship through multiple programs—Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) with seed/operational funding, Atal New India Challenges (ANIC) for challenge-based grants, ARISE for MSME/R&D partnerships, and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) for tier-2/3 outreach; access to mentors, labs, and investor/industry networks.

Eligibility: Host institutions (universities, R&D labs, non-profits, private/public entities) can apply to set up AIC/ACIC; startups and MSMEs can apply for challenge grants (ANIC/ARISE) via published problem statements; selection based on innovation potential, impact, team capability, and feasibility.

Purpose: Build a nationwide innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem that supports idea-to-market journeys with funding, infrastructure, and partnerships.

National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) Patent Assistance

Benefits: Grant-in-aid style financial assistance for patent protection up to grant/registration for academia, startups, R&D institutions, and grassroots innovators.​

Track record: 100+ applications supported in recent years under this window.​

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) PATH (Patenting & Technology Transfer in Health/Biotech)

Benefits: Grant support for complete Indian filing, PCT/convention filings, and partial maintenance for two years post-grant; reimbursement possible for already incurred IP expenses from date of submission.​

Conditions: Apply within 9 months of provisional filing; must include commercialization strategy and documentation.​​

State-level patent reimbursement (IPR cell)

Benefits: Reimbursement up to ₹2 lakh per granted Indian patent and up to ₹10 lakh for a foreign patent; staged disbursal (e.g., 75% at filing, balance post-grant).​

Tip: Check your state’s Startup Cell or IP policy for specific caps, eligibility, and incubation requirements.​

For example, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) runs an IP Facilitation Centre model assisting MSMEs with filing and reimbursement guidance.

IP Nani (IPR Awareness Mascot) – CIPAM/DPIIT

Benefits: A national IPR awareness mascot with short, user‑friendly videos and explainer content that introduce patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, and GI in simple language; materials are used in campaigns, schools, and online channels.​​

Eligibility: Open educational resource for everyone—students, researchers, startups/MSMEs, educators, and enforcement agencies created by CIPAM to boost basic IP literacy across India.​

Status: Active awareness initiative under the National IPR Policy; widely circulated through DPIIT/CIPAM portals and social media, supporting ongoing IP outreach along with themed comic books and toolkits.

National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) – CGPDTM/DPIIT

Benefits: Free, structured IP awareness sessions (online/offline) for schools, colleges, and universities, covering basics of patents, trademarks, designs, and copyright; certificates for participants; scalable programs delivered nationwide.​

Eligibility: Open to academic institutions, students, and faculty across India; sessions are conducted by the Intellectual Property Office under CGPDTM with simple registration and scheduling.

Department of Science & Technology (DST) WISE internship in IPR

Benefits: One-year, structured training in Intellectual Property Rights combining classroom orientation and 10–11 months of hands-on internship at IP offices, law firms, and partner organizations. Trainees learn patent searches, drafting, prosecution basics, portfolio management, licensing, valuation, and IP policy, and receive a completion certificate. This is one of the wonderful opportunities for the women who have career break and wants to give come back.

Eligibility: Women aged 25–45 with PG/PhD or equivalent in Basic/Applied Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, or allied fields. Applicants in permanent/regular employment are not eligible.

Stipend (12 months): Rs. 30,000/month: M.Sc./B.Tech./MBBS (or equivalent); Rs. 35,000/month: M.Phil./M.Tech./M.Pharm./M.Sc. (or equivalent); Rs. 40,000/month: Ph.D. (Basic/Applied Sciences or equivalent)

Purpose: To equip women in STEM with practical IPR skills, build a nationwide pool of IP professionals, strengthen patenting capacity in academia and startups, and enable flexible, career‑restarting opportunities in the IP domain.

NABARD Assistance for Geographical Indications

Benefits: Financial support to promote, register, and market GI products from agriculture and rural sectors; assistance may cover GI application costs, awareness and capacity-building, common facility centers, branding/packaging, exhibitions, and market linkages through Producer Organizations and cooperatives.

Eligibility: GI producer groups, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, self-help group (SHG) collectives, and government/semigovernment agencies working with GI-linked rural/agri products; projects are typically routed via NABARD Regional Offices with support from State GI cells/authorities.

Status: Active support under NABARD’s development and promotional interventions; aligned with GI Act objectives to protect origin-based products and enhance rural livelihoods through value addition and formal market access.

How to get started (step-by-step Procedure)

Eligibility

  • Get DPIIT recognition (for startups) or Udyam registration (for MSMEs) before applying.​
  • For biotech/health inventions, align with BIRAC PATH timelines post-provisional filing.​

Choose the right route

  • Startup: Engage an empanelled SIPP facilitator from CGPDTM list; government pays facilitator charges.​
  • MSME: File patent and claim reimbursement via MSME Innovative/IPR; keep fee receipts and documents.​

Prepare documents

  • Draft specification, drawings, claims; maintain proof of filing, fee payments, and authorization; align with scheme forms.​
  • For reimbursements, retain grants, examination, and attorney invoices along with statutory receipts.​

Consider foreign filings

  • Go for PCT/convention filings through BIRAC (if eligible) or MSME reimbursements for foreign protection, based on market and licensing strategy.​
  • Use state startup reimbursements where available to defray early costs.​

Costs you still bear

  • Statutory fees for filing/examination/renewals are typically borne by the applicant, though reduced for startups/MSMEs; government covers SIPP facilitator fees.​
  • Attorney/prosecution costs may be reimbursed partially under MSME/state schemes or covered under BIRAC PATH per guidelines.​

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Secure DPIIT recognition (startups) or Udyam registration (MSMEs) and keep incubator/authority letters ready. This unlocks SIPP, MSME IPR, and many state benefits.
  • Submit complete application on time, map PCT/convention and national phase deadlines, and don’t miss scheme windows (e.g., BIRAC’s 9‑month rule).
  • Filing without DPIIT recognition and losing SIPP benefits; get recognized before initiating facilitator support.​
  • SIPP requires empanelled facilitators; SIP‑EIT applies only to E&IT inventions; state schemes may need pre‑approval or domicile proof.
  • Draft strong claims after a prior art check, pick foreign countries based on market/FTO/enforcement, and budget for prosecution and renewals.

Government of India now makes patent protection more accessible than ever through SIPP, MSME IPR reimbursements, BIRAC support, and active state incentives—meaning innovators can file early, reduce costs, and accelerate commercialization with confidence. By aligning your filing plan with eligibility (DPIIT startup, Udyam MSME, sectoral programs) and keeping documentation tight, you can stack benefits across central and state schemes to maximize savings. If you’re a researcher, startup, or MSME, looking for funding support for filing patent, use these opportunities now: secure recognition, engage a facilitator, and use reimbursements to protect your IPR and unlock market and funding opportunities.

References

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