NIT Rourkela Crosses 100 Granted Patents, Signals Urge In Research-led Innovation
The institute has so far filed 230 patent applications — 218 in India and 12 internationally — of which 101 have been granted, including four overseas patents. Officials describe the achievement as a marker of the institute’s growing emphasis on translational research and intellectual property creation
Rourkela (Odisha): The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has crossed a significant milestone in its research journey, securing more than 100 granted patents and reinforcing its position as one of India’s emerging innovation-driven academic institutions.
The institute has so far filed 230 patent applications — 218 in India and 12 internationally — of which 101 have been granted, including four overseas patents. Officials describe the achievement as a marker of the institute’s growing emphasis on translational research and intellectual property creation.
Patent activity at NIT Rourkela has accelerated sharply in recent years. Given the long examination cycle typical of patent approvals, the surge in filings during 2025 is expected to yield further grants in the coming years. The institute received 23 patents in 2025 alone, indicating a steady upward trajectory.
The innovations span a wide range of high-impact sectors, including AI-based vehicular communication, autonomous drone systems, industrial waste treatment, health-monitoring Internet of Things devices, sustainable food packaging, and advanced materials derived from waste. Several of these technologies are designed with scalability and industry adoption in mind.
Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao said the milestone reflects a deliberate institutional push toward building a strong culture of research and intellectual property. With 91 new patent applications filed in 2025, he added, the institute aims to double its tally of granted patents in the coming year while expanding work in priority areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, healthcare technologies and water research.
Central to this effort is NIT Rourkela’s Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), established in 2022 to streamline patent filing, technology transfer and industry collaboration. The centre supports inventors through awareness programmes, proposal review, patent prosecution and licensing initiatives, while encouraging researchers to integrate IP creation into academic work.
Chairperson of CIPR Prof. Sujit Sen said structured initiatives such as encouraging every research scholar to pursue patentable work have helped create momentum. The institute is now targeting a substantial rise in annual filings as it deepens partnerships with industry and expands international outreach.
Officials say the patent drive aligns with national priorities under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, aiming to translate laboratory research into commercially viable technologies that strengthen India’s innovation economy.