Intellectual Property Right Scheme Under MSME Innovative Scheme
Ministry of MSME · Central government
This scheme reimburses IP filing fees—patents, trademarks, GIs, designs—for eligible Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
Open, rolling. Applications are accepted continuously — there is no deadline.
Key facts
- Subsidy amount
- ₹15,000 – ₹5,00,000
- Instrument
- Subsidy
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Disbursement
- Reimbursed after spend
About this scheme
The Intellectual Property Right Scheme functions within the MSME Innovative Scheme, which is administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. Its purpose is to strengthen India’s innovation landscape by enabling Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to protect and utilise their intellectual property (IP). Assistance covers filing and legal support for patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, and geographical indications (GI).
A network of Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) forms the backbone of the programme. These centres deliver IP advisory services, consultations, patentability searches, technology gap analyses, and guidance on IP commercialisation. The objective is to encourage a culture of innovation among Indian MSMEs, helping them safeguard their work and convert knowledge-based strategies into measurable economic returns.
Each IPFC receives a government grant of up to ₹1,00,00,000 to operate effectively. This grant is paid to the institutions that run the centres, not to individual MSMEs, and it underpins the reimbursement process for applicants.
Who can apply
- Eligible business forms
- Private limited company, Limited liability partnership, One person company, Partnership firm, Sole proprietorship
- Udyam registration
- Not specified
- MSME registration
- Required
- DPIIT startup recognition
- Not specified
- GST registration
- Not specified
- Where the business may be based
- Not restricted
- The beneficiary unit must be a registered Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise. - It must possess a valid Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) or Udyam Registration certificate.
How to apply
The application process for the Intellectual Property Right Scheme is conducted entirely online.
- Go to the official MSME Innovative Scheme portal at https://innovative.msme.gov.in/. - Select the "Design" section or the appropriate applicant flow for IP registration. - Start the application by providing your valid Udyam Registration Number and the registered mobile number linked to your MSME. - Click "Validate" to continue. - Complete the remaining fields in the application form as directed on screen, supplying all required information and uploading necessary documents, including your Udyam Registration certificate. - Verify that all details are correct before submitting. Once submitted successfully, a confirmation is issued, and the application is routed through the designated Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) for processing.
How applications are assessed
For a reimbursement scheme, there is no competitive selection process. Instead, the procedure centres on verifying the applicant's eligibility and the legitimacy of the intellectual property filing. Online applications are generally assessed by the Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) to confirm adherence to the scheme's guidelines and the genuineness of the IP registration paperwork.
Once the registration and related expenses are successfully checked, the reimbursement is typically released. Claims are usually settled on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability of funds within the allocated budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
Intellectual property (IP) covers creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and the symbols, names, images, and designs used in trade.
What are the types of Intellectual Property Rights?
The categories of intellectual property are Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Industrial Designs, Geographical Indications, and Trade Secrets. Patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications together form what is known as Industrial property.
What is a patent?
A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which may be a product or process that offers a new way of doing something or a new technical solution to a problem, provided it meets patentability conditions.
What are the benefits of patent registration?
A patent grants the exclusive right to use or exploit an invention for 20 years from the filing date, which strengthens market position by preventing others from commercial use. It also enables higher returns on investment, licensing or sale opportunities, and a positive enterprise image.
What is Copyright?
Copyright grants creators legal rights over literary and artistic works such as novels, poems, plays, newspapers, computer programs, databases, films, music, paintings, photographs, architecture, maps, and technical drawings. Protection generally lasts for the author's lifetime plus 60 years, except for photographs, which have a different term.
What is a Trademark?
A distinctive sign that identifies goods or services as originating from a particular person or enterprise.
How to apply for the Patent/GI/Trademark/Design reimbursement?
Apply online at https://innovative.msme.gov.in/Home/IprIndex.
Is there a centre to support counselling/drafting/filing of IP rights?
Yes — the Ministry of MSME has established Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) for this purpose, and these centres also channel the reimbursement benefits.
What documents are required for the application?
Applicants need to submit their Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) or Udyam Registration (UR) certificate, and the mobile number registered with UAM is used for verification.
Sectors
- Intellectual Property
- Patent
- Trademark
- Msme
- Subsidy
- Reimbursement
- Innovation
Details last verified on 7 September 2026. Source: the issuer's published information.