ROURKELA : National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) has established itself as an innovative educational institution in India by receiving its 101st patent. The Institute has filed 230 patents (218 national and 12 international) and received 97 national and 4 international patents, marking an impressive milestone in national and international research and innovation.
The Institute has witnessed substantial increases over the years for patents filed and granted, and in 2025, the Institute received 23 patents, adding to their steady growth over the years. Given that patents take considerable time to be examined and approved, the 2025 patent filings will show outstanding results in the following years.
Key innovation domains
The granted patents from NIT Rourkela span across diverse domains, including but not limited to:
Ø AI-based vehicular communication systems
Ø Autonomous drone technologies
Ø Industrial waste treatment prototypes
Ø Health-monitoring IoT devices
Ø Sustainable food packaging technologies
Ø Advanced materials derived from waste resources
Speaking about the achievement, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, said, “Surpassing 100 granted patents marks a significant milestone in NIT Rourkela’s journey toward building a strong culture of research, innovation, and intellectual property creation. In the last three years, NIT Rourkela has filed over 230 patents, of which 101 have been granted. This growing portfolio of patents is paving the way to sustain strategic focuses on several pivotal domains such as AI-driven technologies, sustainable materials, healthcare and biomedical solutions, semiconductors, and water research. With 91 patent applications filed in 2025 alone, we are increasing our pace to foster an innovation-centric ecosystem and aim to double the number of granted patents in the coming year, contributing meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”
To support its faculty in filing patents to protect and secure their innovations and technologies, NIT Rourkela’s Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) serves as a comprehensive platform for intellectual property development. It supports:
Ø Creating awareness and capacity in IP matters within and beyond the institute
Ø Reviewing and approving IP proposals from faculty and students
Ø Assisting in patent filing, prosecution, and grant processes
Ø Facilitating licensing, technology transfer, and collaborations
Ø Supporting MoUs and issuing NOCs related to IP matters
Speaking about CIPR at NIT Rourkela, Prof. Sujit Sen, Chairperson, CIPR, said, “Incepted by Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela in 2022, CIPR aims to boost institutional academic credentials and rankings, and foster industry collaborations, while rewarding inventors for innovative, novel, and non-obvious solutions. Efforts such as “One scholar, one patent” for the research scholars have shown positive outcomes in gaining this remarkable fleet of 100+ granted patents. In 2026, we aim to file a minimum of 200 patents and envision achieving the goal of “One patent a day” in the coming three years. CIPR notes that the 2026 Budget measures show a policy approach that links IP creation with building capabilities in key sectors, while also improving the environment for generating and commercialising legally protectable IP through scale, wider participation, and continued public investment.”
Looking forward, NIT Rourkela aims to strengthen its innovation ecosystem by expanding industry partnerships, increasing international patent filings, and promoting technology transfer for societal and industrial impact.
Patent development at NIT Rourkela contributes directly to national goals such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India by promoting indigenous innovation, supporting industrial competitiveness, attracting investments, and fostering sustainable technological development aligned with India’s socioeconomic priorities. The Institute remains committed to bringing the research lab to the real world and positioning itself as a global leader in technology-driven innovation.
