India IP SME helpdesk : standard-essential patents in India : a brief overview

Introduction Intangible assets are cornerstones of today's economy. The last two decades have seen an 87% increase in the volume of investments in intellectual property products in contrast to a 30% increase in physical investments. 47% of the total economic activity (GDP) in the European Union (EU) is attributable to IPR-intensive industries amounting to EUR 6.4 trillion and IPR industries directly contribute to the creation of almost 39.4% of all jobs in the EU. In the last century, we have traversed from siloed innovative devices to an interconnected and combinatorial innovation space, wherein multiple innovators and original equipment manufacturers interact and build upon each other's innovations. This necessitates standardized protocols for efficient communication and interactions between devices. Standards thus act as catalysts enabling the diffusion of innovative technology, build a cohesive and critical mass of firms to launch an emerging technology, ensure an effective technology transfer by facilitating licensing of patent rights, and spur innovation by enabling compatibility and competition within and between technologies.