AICTE and MIC Launch ‘IP Utsav 2025’ to Celebrate World Intellectual Property Day

To commemorate World Intellectual Property Day, AICTE and the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell (MIC) have launched ‘IP Utsav 2025’.

AICTE and MIC Launch ‘IP Utsav 2025’

IP Utsav 2025: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), inaugurated ‘IP Utsav 2025’, a week-long national celebration designed to raise awareness about intellectual property rights and their pivotal role in safeguarding creativity and driving innovation. Held at AICTE Headquarters in New Delhi, the inaugural event sets the tone for World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, bringing together thousands of students, faculty members, innovators, and startups from across the country through a series of online masterclasses, expert talks, and interactive knowledge sessions.

The week-long celebration of IP Utsav features a diverse lineup of engaging sessions, including:

• Masterclasses and Expert Talks: In-depth discussions on foundational and advanced aspects of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs.
• Commercialization Pathways: Expert guidance on protecting, scaling, and monetizing innovations effectively.
• IP to Product Transition: Practical insights into transforming ideas into prototypes and products, with a focus on securing intellectual property rights at every stage.

The IP Utsav launch event featured key dignitaries including AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Vice Chairman Dr. Abhay Jere, CGPDTM Prof. Unnat P. Pandit, and Dr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent from WIPO. Thousands of faculty and students from AICTE-approved institutions joined virtually, highlighting India’s rising interest in IP awareness and innovation-led education.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. T.G. Sitharam emphasized India’s significant strides in the innovation landscape, and said, “India’s rise in the Global Innovation Index from rank 80 to 39 is a testament to our growing innovation ecosystem. Aligning to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, initiatives like KAPILA, YUKTI, Idea Labs, Indovation Centres, and the Smart India Hackathon, we are transforming the academic environment into a vibrant hub of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.”

Dr. Abhay Jere stated, “From introducing design thinking from Grade 6 to running national bootcamps, hackathons, and incubators, we are ensuring every creative spark finds support and a pathway to become a venture. We need more platforms like SIH and YUKTI for our young innovators and AICTE & MIC is committed for the same.”

Prof. Unnat P. Pandit stated: “A new era of innovation is upon us. We must now focus on building an inclusive IP ecosystem that empowers every innovator - from grassroots inventors to tech startups for VIKASIT BHARAT. The rise in academic patent filings by 236% shows the transformational impact of awareness, education, and capacity-building.”

Delivering a virtual address from Geneva, Dr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent of WIPO lauded India’s proactive approach: “India’s innovation story is inspiring and India patent office is now in Top 10 offices of the world in patent filing. AICTE’s efforts such as the Smart India Hackathon, Idea Labs, and support programs for commercialization are shining examples of how academic ecosystems can lead national innovation.”

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