Initiative Aims to Support Innovators in Patent Filing and Technology Transfer
New Delhi: Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Saturday unveiled the ‘Medical Innovations Patent Mitra’, a flagship initiative by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) aimed at strengthening India’s healthcare innovation ecosystem. The initiative will provide comprehensive guidance to innovators for patent filing, prosecution, and technology transfer to industry.
The launch took place at the International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA) and is a collaborative effort under the guidance of NITI Aayog, in partnership with the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Enhancing India’s Patent Ecosystem
A panel discussion followed the launch, bringing together bureaucrats, industry leaders, investors, and public health experts to explore challenges and strategies for increasing patent filings and technology transfer in medical research.
Health Minister J P Nadda hailed the initiative as a significant step toward supporting innovators, ensuring that groundbreaking research is protected and seamlessly transferred for public benefit.
“This visionary effort propels India towards attaining the goal of Viksit Bharat by securing intellectual property rights and facilitating innovation in healthcare,” Nadda said.
A Push for Self-Reliant Healthcare Innovation
Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog, emphasized that the Patent Mitra initiative aligns with Ayushman Bharat’s goals, ensuring that homegrown medical innovations reach every corner of the country.
“India’s journey towards self-reliance depends on our ability to innovate within our own borders. Patent Mitra will help protect and commercialize indigenous biomedical research, fostering a self-sustaining healthcare ecosystem,” Dr. Paul stated.
ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl noted that the initiative will bridge critical gaps in the patenting process, assisting innovators from patentability assessments to maintenance.
“With support from MedTech Mitra, we aim for a tenfold increase in life science patents in India within the next two years,” he added.
Supporting Startups and the Pharma Sector
Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), expressed enthusiasm about partnering with ICMR on this initiative.
“This will greatly benefit innovators, startups, and industries, complementing the DoP’s PRIP scheme, and shifting India’s Pharma and MedTech sector from a cost-driven model to innovation-based growth,” he stated.
Comprehensive Services for Innovators
The Medical Innovations Patent Mitra will support:
✔ ICMR Institutes & Extramural Grantees
✔ Medical colleges & research institutes
✔ Startups & industry partners
Key offerings include:
🔹 Patentability assessment & filing
🔹 Assistance in patent prosecution & maintenance
🔹 Technology transfer support through platforms like MedTech “Mela” and paperless Expression of Interest (EoI) processes
With this initiative, ICMR aims to accelerate biomedical research commercialization, ensuring that Indian healthcare innovations are effectively protected and deployed for public benefit.
