24 August, 2026

On 24 August 2026, the VGEC E-Cell, in coordination with the Chemical Engineering Department, organized an awareness session as part of the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC). The session focused on India’s IPR Policy and provisions for startups, inventors, and innovators, with particular emphasis on accelerating the intellectual property landscape in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). 

The session was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, Government of India. The programme provided participants with valuable insights into intellectual property-led innovation, the National IP Policy, and the patent application process. The session also highlighted the growing participation of Indian startups in patent filing and discussed important case studies related to inventions and IPR.

Key Features:

• Event Title: India’s IPR Policy and Provisions for Startups, Inventors and Innovators: Accelerating the IP Landscape in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) 
• Expert: Prof. (Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, Government of India 
• Venue: H-202/3, Conference Room, Chemical Engineering Department 
• Date & Time: 24/08/2026, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM 
• No. of Participants: 31 
• Organized by: VGEC SSIP / E-Cell 
• Session Coordinated by: Chemical Engineering Department 

Discussion Points:

• Role of IP-led innovation in NEP 2020 and its important features 
• Seven core objectives of the National IP Policy 
• Stage-wise process for filing patent applications as per the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry standard procedure 
• Growth in the share of Indian startup patent filings, increasing from 20% in 2018 to 69% in 2024 
• Important case studies on inventions and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) 

Outcome / Impact:

The session enhanced participants’ awareness of intellectual property, patent filing procedures, the National IP Policy, and IPR opportunities for startups, inventors, and innovators. The interaction with an expert from the Government of India provided participants with practical understanding of the importance of protecting and leveraging intellectual property as part of the innovation and startup journey.