World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has released the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report, revealing global trends in intellectual property (IP) filings. This year’s edition highlights significant progress in patent, trademark, and industrial design applications across major global economies. Notably, India has secured its place among the top 10 nations globally for all three major IP rights—patents, trademarks, and industrial designs—underscoring the country’s growing influence in the global IP landscape.

India’s Patent Growth and Performance

India recorded the fastest growth in patent applications among the top 20 economies, with a remarkable 15.7% increase in 2023. This marks the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth, solidifying India’s standing as a leader in global innovation. With 64,480 patent applications in 2023, India ranks 6th globally. Of these, over 55% were filed by domestic residents, a first for the country. Furthermore, the Indian Patent Office granted 149.4% more patents in 2023 compared to the previous year, reflecting the rapidly evolving IP ecosystem within India.

Rise in Industrial Design Applications

India has also seen a substantial rise in industrial design applications, which increased by 36.4% in 2023. This surge aligns with the growing focus on product design, manufacturing, and creative industries in the country. The key sectors driving design filings include Textiles and Accessories, Tools and Machines, and Health and Cosmetics, together accounting for nearly half of all industrial design applications.

Trademark Filings: A Record Performance

India’s trademark filings have also shown impressive growth, increasing by 6.1% in 2023. With nearly 90% of these filings being by domestic residents, India ranks 4th globally for trademark applications. Key sectors leading the trademark filings include Health (21.9%), Agriculture (15.3%), and Clothing (12.8%). India’s trademark office holds the second-largest number of active registrations globally, with over 3.2 million trademarks in force, highlighting the country’s robust position in global brand protection.

Impact of Innovation and Economic Growth

Between 2018 and 2023, India has witnessed a more than two-fold increase in patent and industrial design applications, alongside a 60% rise in trademark filings. This reflects a strong national emphasis on innovation and intellectual property. India’s patent-to-GDP ratio has also surged, increasing from 144 to 381 over the past decade, indicating that IP activity is scaling in tandem with the nation’s economic growth.

Global IP Filing Trends

The WIPO report also reveals global trends in IP filings, with a total of 3.55 million patent applications filed worldwide in 2023, a 2.7% increase from the previous year. The growth was primarily driven by Asian economies, including China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and India. The rise in resident filings across these nations signals a shift towards local innovation, as countries work to strengthen their domestic IP landscapes.

India’s Position in Global Innovation

The findings from WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 reinforce India’s progress in fostering innovation and IP development. The steady rise in resident filings reflects the positive impact of government initiatives designed to make India a global innovation hub. This growing emphasis on intellectual property is helping India solidify its position as a key player in the global IP ecosystem, supporting the country’s broader objectives of fostering creativity, innovation, and economic growth.