AI to turbocharge patent creation at Indian tech hubs

Global firms operating in India’s technology hubs are leveraging AI to speed up the creation of patents and intellectual property, reinforcing the country’s role as a key innovation center. Executives from Publicis Groupe’s Epsilon, Kimberly-Clark, and Daimler Truck told Reuters that automation is freeing staff from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on complex work and proprietary technology development. Radhakrishnan Kodakkal, head of Daimler Truck Innovation Center India, stated that patent and trade secret production at these centers is already rising, and AI will further accelerate this trend. India’s global capability centers (GCCs) have evolved from low-cost back-office operations into innovation hubs, attracting continued investment despite global economic uncertainty. The sector generated $98.4 billion in revenue last fiscal year, exceeding industry projections by four years, according to a Nasscom and Zinnov report. Patent filings in India surged 11.3% to over 90,000 in fiscal 2024, with nearly half submitted by multinational corporations, though many IPs are filed through parent companies in the U.S. and Europe. Regulatory challenges remain a barrier to local patent filings. Deena Dayalan, global head of digital operations and cloud transformation at Kimberly-Clark, explained that the company files patents through its U.S. operations due to India’s lengthy approval process—taking five to six months for filings and additional years for grants. India’s Patent Office faces backlogs and examiner shortages, contributing to delays, while high legal costs and procedural ambiguities discourage local filings, according to Nasscom. Despite these hurdles, recent reforms—such as digitizing Patent Office functions and centralizing application allocation—have improved efficiency. Video hearings have also expanded access for applicants. Harsh Kaushik, a New Delhi-based IP lawyer, noted these changes have eased the filing process, though structural challenges persist. Executives remain optimistic about India’s potential for high-value IP work. Pratik Nath, managing director of Epsilon India, predicted an increase in patent-related activities within the country. The strong foundations of Indian GCCs, combined with AI-driven innovation, are expected to sustain growth in proprietary technology development.