Now, ITI, polytechnic students can patent ideas for free

MSBTE to foot expense of registration after feasibility report by panel of experts.

To encourage research and prevent duplication of concepts, Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has offered to foot the expense of patenting ideas of students of polytechnics and industrial training institutes (ITIs).

Officials said while it was the responsibility of principals/institution heads to send proposals to MSBTE, students could also directly apply to get ideas patented.

P M Khodke, director of MSBTE, said the regulator had decided to use surplus funds for the benefit of students.

"We realised that polytechnic and ITI students have good concepts and make prototypes that are ignored or misused by companies," he said.

Students will have to present ideas to a panel of IIT experts and corporates. This panel will verify feasibility and suggest MSBTE if a concept/research work can be patented.

"We have asked principals and institute heads under MSBTE to inform students about the initiative by putting up posters with details and criteria for applying for a patent," Khodke said.

The cost can vary from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh depending on verification expenses Indian Patent Office will have to bear. Khodke said there was no limit to applications.

He said the notion that students pursuing diploma courses cannot be inventors was wrong.

"We have students who have come up with ideas that are not only practical but economical and eco-friendly. Lack of initiative on the part of institutes and lack of funds have been a hindrance. But now, MSBTE will ensure students get ownership of their ideas and also monetary benefits," said Khodke.

ALSO READ

Campus placements: IIT Bombay targets 100 companies in phase-II

‘Babasaheb Ambedkar a prisoner of caste politics, his relevance will grow’: Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh president Prakash Ambedkar

From anger to anguish

We deal with birth and death daily, but some deaths leave a void, say doctors