Private universities are filing more patents than IITs — but do the numbers really tell the full story of innovation in India?
In India’s higher education system, the Indian Institutes of Technology have long been seen as the gold standard of research and innovation. For decades, the IITs have symbolized academic excellence, rigorous science, and technological breakthroughs. So when recent data showed that several private universities are filing more patent applications than the IITs combined, it raised eyebrows across the academic world.
At first glance, the numbers seem dramatic. In the academic year 2022–23, Lovely Professional University reportedly filed more than 1,300 patent applications. Jain Deemed-to-be University crossed 1,000. Galgotias University and Teerthanker Mahaveer University also recorded filings in four digits. In comparison, the combined patent filings of all IIT campuses during the same period stood at around 800.
The headline writes itself: private universities are outpacing IITs in innovation.
But the real story is more layered.
A patent filing is not the same as a granted patent. Filing simply means an institution has submitted an application claiming an invention. The application then goes through technical examination. Only if it passes strict tests of novelty, usefulness, and originality does it become a granted patent. Many applications never reach that stage.
When one looks at grant rates instead of filing numbers, the picture changes. IITs tend to have a significantly higher percentage of their applications approved. In several recent years, their success rates have crossed 50 to 60 percent. In contrast, some private universities with very high filing numbers have grant rates in the low single digits. That gap suggests that while private institutions may be filing aggressively, IITs are converting a larger share of their research into legally recognized intellectual property.
So why are private universities filing so many patents?
Part of the answer lies in incentives. The Indian government has introduced policies to encourage innovation and intellectual property creation. Institutions can receive financial support for patent filings, and filing activity often strengthens performance indicators used in rankings. In frameworks such as the National Institutional Ranking Framework, research output and intellectual property count significantly. For newer universities trying to establish reputation and visibility, high patent filing numbers can become a strategic tool.
There is also an internal academic factor. Some universities encourage faculty members and even students to file patents as part of performance metrics. In certain cases, filing a patent can add weight to a promotion file or annual appraisal. This creates a culture where the number of applications matters.
However, innovation is not only about filing paperwork. A strong patent ecosystem depends on depth of research, laboratory infrastructure, experienced faculty, industry collaboration, and sustained funding. IITs benefit from decades of research tradition, international partnerships, and access to major grants. Their inventions are often linked to long-term projects in advanced materials, artificial intelligence, clean energy, biotechnology, and aerospace engineering. Many of these patents go on to be licensed, commercialized, or form the base of startups.
Private universities, especially those established in the last two decades, are still building that ecosystem. Some have invested heavily in research labs and faculty hiring, and the rise in patent filings does show growing ambition. It reflects a shift in mindset. Private higher education in India is no longer confined only to teaching; it wants to compete in research too.
Yet numbers alone do not measure impact. A patent that is granted and later used in industry carries far more value than dozens of applications that never move beyond the examination stage. Internationally, innovation strength is often judged not just by patent counts but by citation impact, commercialization rates, and technology transfer success.
There is also a broader policy question. If ranking systems and funding schemes reward quantity over quality, institutions may naturally focus on boosting filing numbers. That can inflate statistics without necessarily strengthening real research outcomes. A more balanced approach would weigh granted patents, industry adoption, and long-term research contributions more heavily.
This debate comes at an important moment for India. The country aims to position itself as a global innovation hub. Its spending on research and development is still below that of many advanced economies as a share of GDP. To compete globally, India needs both strong public institutions like the IITs and ambitious private universities. It needs depth, originality, and global competitiveness.
The rise in patent filings from private universities should not be dismissed. It signals growing participation in the intellectual property system. But it should also be examined carefully. Filing more patents than IITs does not automatically mean surpassing them in research strength.
In the end, innovation is not a race of numbers. It is a measure of ideas that survive scrutiny, solve real problems, and create value for society. The real question is not who files more patents, but whose inventions stand the test of time.
