Increasing patenting activity seen in India: Survey

MUMBAI: Patenting activity is witnessing a spurt in India in the recent years, a survey said.

"India is an important global innovation hub, with both local and global organisations conducting critical research and development (R&D) activities in India. Patenting activity is growing rapidly and this has a direct impact on the country's economic growth," Thomson Reuters managing director, India, and head of global operation centres Pradeep Lankapalli said, quoting the `2014 State of Innovation India' report.

Among the top 10 patent filers in India, eight are domestic organisations, it added.

This year, for the first time, the computing and control technology sector has drawn level with the pharmaceuticals sector with each taking 17 per cent of the overall share of Indian innovation, the report revealed.

Further, polymers and plastics have dramatically increased the share this year, rising to third place from 11th last year.

Communications again features prominently in innovation. New areas that have emerged this year are electric power engineering, buildings and construction, semiconductors and electronic components, lighting and heating and engines, pumps and compressors. There is an increase in patent numbers in these industries.

High-tech, mechanical engineering and materials sectors have displaced the more traditional chemical and agricultural technology sectors.