In response to the surging number of Intellectual Property Applications, the Indian Patent Office (IPO) is set to expand its workforce significantly.
The IPO has announced plans to recruit around 900 new personnel to bolster its capabilities in patent processing.
The move comes as a strategic response to the ten-fold increase in patent filings and six-fold surge in trademark applications since 2016, as highlighted by Rajesh Kumar Singh, the secretary of the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Swift Patent Processing on the Horizon
Efforts are underway to enhance the IPO’s capacity to expedite the handling of patent applications.
Rajesh Kumar Singh disclosed at the National Intellectual Property Conference that recruitment for the 900 new positions within the patent office is already in progress.
He emphasized that these measures, initiated by the government, will contribute to India’s advancement in the Global Innovation Index.
India’s Global Innovation Index Ranking Holds Steady
India has maintained its position, ranking 40th among 132 economies in the 2023 Global Innovation Index (GII), according to a report by the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization.
While there’s notable progress, Singh acknowledges that there’s still significant ground to cover for India to further elevate its innovation standing.