CII Launches the "Women in IP Compendium" to Address India's Patent Gap

In a major domestic push to tackle low filing numbers, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) officially launched the first edition of the Women in IP Compendium – Driving India's Knowledge-Powered Economy." 

The compendium points out a stark challenge: while WIPO records global female patent applicants at roughly 17.7%, India’s share historically sits lower, at around 12.1% of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings. Current projections warn that at the current pace, global gender parity in patenting wouldn't be achieved until 2077.

The initiative acts as a formalized roadmap to break down legal and financial barriers such as the high costs of patent drafting and profiles top private-practice pioneers and corporate IP heads, including senior leaders from major firms like LexOrbis, Anand & Anand, and Lall & Sethi, to create an institutional mentorship framework for women in STEM and academia.

Reference: (2025). World Intellectual Property Indicators 2025: Highlights - Patents highlights. World Intellectual Property Organization. https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/world-intellectual-property-indicators-2025-highlights/en/patents-highlights.html