Startup culture key to generating patents in electronics

Speakers at a CII programme listed out priorities that include seamless exchange of ideas between the industry, universities and research institutes

Growth in startups and associated ecosystem is key to research and manufacturing capabilities in electronics and IT, said speakers at a CII programme on strategic Intellectual Property management.

Even as more and more frugal innovations were being explored by leveraging internet as a platform, a lot needs to be done to position India as a hub for new-age electronics, they said.

The priorities listed out by them include seamless exchange of ideas between the industry, universities and research institutes. This can be realised through setting up of full-fledged incubation centres at the educational institutions and encouraging entrepreneurial skills at the school level among others.

Infotech Enterprises chairman and managing director BVR Mohan Reddy said, “We expect establishment of 15-20 dedicated electronics incubation centres with the supporting ecosystem in place through  public-private partnership.”

Reddy, who is currently holding the co-chair on CII National Committee on Design, said the country needed 1,000 startups in the next 10 years to inch higher towards a strong and indigenous electronics and IT ecosystem.

Growing at high double-digits, the $60-80 billion Indian electronic systems design and manufacturing, has very few domestic players. Consequently, a majority of the demand is being met through imports.

The single biggest factor hindering electronics research in the country is "lack of patent management services and awareness," said Rajat Kumar, commissioner of Industries, Andhra Pradesh.

He expressed any policy in electronics IP should gauge the needs of domestic industry.

The state's nascent Research and Innovation policy targets forming innovation circle to encourage research and product development with industry-varsity tie-ups.

Sanjay Jaju, secretary - IT, electronics and communication, said each year around 1,000 state students from various technical institutes would be identified and trained by Indian School of Business (ISB) for entrepreneurial skills.