Patent fees for all educational institutions reduced by 80%

This benefit was earlier available to all recognised educational institutions owned by the government

In a bid to boost innovation and entrepreneurship, the Centre on Thursday said it had slashed patent fees for all educational institutions by 80%.

Earlier, this concession was extended only to state-run educational institutions.

The Commerce and Industry Ministry statement said to avail of the concessional patent fees, innovators will have to make the applications in the name of the institutions which play a key role in innovation.

“In this regard and to encourage greater participation of the educations institutions, who play a pivotal role in country’s innovation, official fees payable by them in respect of various acts under the Patents Rules, 2003, have been reduced by way of the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which came into effect on 21 September 2021,” the statement said.

It added that benefits related to 80% reduced fee for patent filing and prosecution have been extended to educational institutions as well.

The ministry has also extended the expedited examination system to decide on the grant of patent within one year of filing to eight more categories that include small and medium enterprises (SME), female applicants, government departments, institutions established by a central, provincial or state act, which is owned or controlled by the government, and government companies.

A notification issued in this regard stated that an educational institution means a university established or incorporated by or under central, provincial or state laws and includes any other educational institution as recognised by an authority designated by the central, state or the Union territories.

The ministry said it has also taken steps to ensure that the time taken for examination of patents is reduced from an average of 72 months in 2015 to 12-30 months at present, depending upon technology fields.

“It is expected that the time for final disposal of patent applications, which has reduced to average 48 months at present from a few years earlier, will be reduced to average 24-30 months from filing by end of 2021,” it said.

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