India must shift IP focus from filings to commercialisation: Denmark

India's intellectual property ecosystem is experiencing robust growth in filing numbers, but the country must now concentrate on transforming these patents into tangible commercial outcomes, according to Denmark's diplomatic mission in New Delhi.

While the volume of patent filings has reached unprecedented levels, significant gaps remain between innovation registration and market application. The Embassy has highlighted that many Indian enterprises, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), lack adequate support mechanisms to navigate the complex process of commercialising intellectual property.

The shift from quantity-focused filing metrics to quality-focused commercialisation represents a critical juncture for India's innovation economy. Successful IP exploitation requires not only legal protection but also access to capital, technical expertise, and business development support that many smaller enterprises currently struggle to obtain.

Denmark's assessment reflects growing international recognition that developing robust IP infrastructure requires more than administrative capacity. Policymakers and stakeholders are increasingly focusing on creating enabling conditions for MSMEs to leverage patents as competitive assets, bridging the gap between research outputs and market-ready products that can generate sustainable economic value.