NIT Rourkela crosses 100-patent milestone, strengthens innovation ecosystem

The National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) in Odisha crossed a significant milestone in its research and innovation journey, with more than 100 patents granted to date, underlining the institute’s growing focus on intellectual property creation and technology development.

According to official data, NIT Rourkela has filed a total of 230 patents so far, comprising 218 national and 12 international applications. Of these, 101 patents have been granted, including 97 national and four international patents. 

The institute witnessed steady growth in patent activity over recent years, with 23 patents granted in 2025 alone. Given the time involved in examination and approval, the impact of the surge in filings during 2025 is expected to be reflected more prominently in the current and coming years.

Wide Range Of Innovation Domains

The granted patents span diverse and emerging domains such as AI-based vehicular communication systems, autonomous drone technologies, industrial waste treatment prototypes, health-monitoring IoT devices, sustainable food packaging solutions, and advanced materials developed from waste resources.

Speaking on the achievement, Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao said surpassing 100 granted patents marked a key milestone in building a strong culture of research, innovation, and intellectual property at the institute. 

He noted that with 91 patent applications filed in 2025 alone, NIT Rourkela aims to double the number of granted patents in the coming year, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Role Of CIPR And Future Plans

The Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) at NIT Rourkela supports faculty and students through awareness programmes, patent filing and prosecution, technology transfer, licensing, and industry collaboration. CIPR Chairperson Prof. Sujit Sen said initiatives such as “One Scholar, One Patent” have yielded positive outcomes, with the centre targeting at least 200 patent filings in 2026.

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Looking ahead, the institute plans to expand industry partnerships, enhance international filings, and promote technology transfer, aligning its innovation efforts with national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.