The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) continues to strengthen its position as a national leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, having filed an impressive 386 patents during the academic year 2024–25, as part of its ongoing commitment to the ‘One Patent a Day’ mission.
The announcement was made during the Fifth Annual Symposium of the Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GDC), where Director Prof. V. Kamakoti delivered an address on the ‘Role of Innovation & Entrepreneurship’. He revealed that over the past six years, only three patents filed by the institute had been rejected — a testament to the quality and impact of IIT Madras’ research output.
“We have been moving towards innovation and entrepreneurship in a big way. The concept of ‘One Patent a Day’ has led to tangible innovation,” Prof. Kamakoti said. “We’re ensuring pioneering ideas are protected in India to begin with.”
Among the standout innovations mentioned were Agnikul’s 3D-printed rocket engine and IIT Madras’ leadership in hyperloop technology, including plans to host Asia’s first-ever hyperloop competition.
- Patents Filed in 2024–25: 386
- Total Rejections in Last 6 Years: 3
- Key Innovations:
- Agnikul’s Rocket (3D-printed engine)
- Hyperloop initiative (first Asian competition)
At the symposium, Prof. Subra Suresh, former Director of the US National Science Foundation and Independent Director at the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, emphasized India’s growing global economic role.
“India is on track to surpass Germany and France in GDP. For that, innovation, research, and discovery must scale rapidly,” he said, citing how 268 NSF-supported scientists in the US have won the Nobel Prize since 1950.
The GDC has also made wide-reaching contributions, partnering with 100+ institutions, training over 1,700 researchers and entrepreneurs, and nurturing 450+ deep-tech startups.
- Theme: Translating Research into Impact at Scale
- Focus Areas: Commercialization, policy alignment, industry-academia collaboration
- Organized by: Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre, IIT Madras
The event concluded with calls to further strengthen the ecosystem of innovation in India through global partnerships, scalable policies, and a deeper integration between scientific research and entrepreneurial execution.
