NIT Rourkela Crosses Milestone with over 100 Granted Patents, Marking a Significant Leap in Research and Innovation Trajectory
National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) continues to position itself as a leading innovation-driven institution in India. To date, the institute has filed 230 patents, comprising 218 national and 12 international filings. Out of these, 101 patents have been granted, including 97 national and 4 international patents, marking a significant milestone for the institute’s research and innovation ecosystem. In 2025 alone, the Institute was granted 23 patents, marking growth over previous years.
Key innovation domains
The granted patents from NIT Rourkela span across diverse domains, including but not limited to:
- AI-based vehicular communication systems
- Autonomous drone technologies
- Industrial waste treatment prototypes
- Health-monitoring IoT devices
- Sustainable food packaging technologies
- Advanced materials derived from waste resources
With 91 patent applications filed in 2025 alone, NIT Rourkela is accelerating its efforts to strengthen an innovation-driven ecosystem and aims to contribute 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. 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.
It supports:
- Creating awareness and capacity in IP matters within and beyond the institute
- Reviewing and approving IP proposals from faculty and students
- Assisting in patent filing, prosecution, and grant processes
- Facilitating licensing, technology transfer, and collaborations
- Supporting MoUs and issuing NOCs related to IP matters
Prof. Sujit Sen, Chairperson, 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. Working on initiatives such as “One scholar, one patent” for the research scholars has shown positive outcomes in gaining this remarkable fleet of 100+ granted patents. In 2026, NIT Rourkela aim to file a minimum of 200 patents and envision achieving the goal of “One patent a day” in the coming three years.
Looking forward, NIT Rourkela is strengthening 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.
https://www.nitrkl.ac.in/CIPR/