Pune: Highlighting the growing importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem, a senior official from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) on Friday said that IP filings by MSMEs have increased by nearly 40 per cent between 2021 and 2025, reflecting rising awareness and participation from the sector.
Speaking at the inauguration of the third edition of the National IP Yatra 2025–26, organised by the AIC-Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum with the support of the Ministry of MSME, Abhay Daftardar, DFO Mumbai of MoMSME underlined the critical role played by MSMEs in India’s economic growth. The two-day event began on December 19 at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Pune.
Daftardar noted that the MSME sector contributes nearly 30 percent to India’s GDP, accounts for about 45 percent of manufacturing output, and generates 35–40 percent of the country’s exports. Given this significant contribution, strengthening MSMEs through innovation, intellectual property protection and research and development is essential for India’s long-term growth, he said.
He emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to supporting MSMEs by promoting IP awareness, simplifying filing processes and encouraging the commercialisation of intellectual property. Stressing the need to strengthen R&D infrastructure, he called for better utilisation of government schemes along with increased private and individual investment in research.
Daftardar also highlighted the importance of industry–academia collaboration, stating that closer engagement between researchers, educational institutions and industry players is vital to translate innovations into market-ready solutions. IP protection must ultimately lead to value creation and business growth, he added.
The inaugural session was attended by Sunil Dhadiwal, CEO, AIC Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum, Pratik Hendre, Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs, Mumbai; IPR expert Vedant Pujari; Manasi Padhye of McLeod Pharma; Mohamad Faisal of Tata Motors; and Priyanka Kulkarni, a senior IP professional. Speakers shared practical insights on patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs and industry-driven IP strategies.
Over the two days, the programme features expert-led technical sessions, panel discussions and workshops focusing on the role of IP in nation-building and India’s Developed India @2047 vision, IP incentives for MSMEs, Make in India-linked IP strategies and global protection mechanisms.
Sessions scheduled for the second day include panel discussions and workshops on commercialising intellectual property, along with expert sessions by Nilesh Pandit (TCS), Advocate Harshavardhan Melanta, Advocate Gowri Gokhale and Chaitanya Adgainkar of Centro Hotels, aimed at providing MSMEs and startups with practical guidance on monetising IP assets.
Suni Dhadiwal said the National IP Yatra is designed to sensitise MSMEs and startups about the importance of IP filing and equip them with actionable knowledge to protect and commercialise innovations. He added that such initiatives are crucial for building an IP-driven economy.
The event has drawn participation from MSMEs, startups, entrepreneurs, technology professionals, legal experts, faculty members and students. Participation is free of cost to ensure wider outreach.
AIC-Pinnacle, supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, operates an Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre (IPFC) under the Ministry of MSME, providing free IPR filing and reimbursement support to MSMEs. The Pune-based incubation centre has supported over 100 startups and facilitated more than 250 IP filings, and was recently recognised as Incubator of the Year 2025 by the Pune Management Association.
