Support for International Patent Protection in Electronics & Information Technology (SIP-EIT)

The Government of India had launched ‘Startup India’ with the aim to generate employment and also to create wealth. Accordingly, various Schemes are being launched under the ‘Startup India’ initiative. One such scheme is ‘Support for International Patent Protection in Electronics & Information Technology’, shortly known as SIP-EIT.

SIP-EIT is launched by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology. It aims to provide financial support to ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ i.e., MSMEs and technology startup units for international patent filing.

The present article details eligibility criteria under the SIP-EIT; steps for online filing of an application under the SIP-EIT; list of documents required under the SIP-EIT and financial support available under the SIP-EIT.

Eligibility criteria followed under the SIP-EIT –

The applicant must satisfy any of the following eligibility criteria for availing benefits under the SIP-EIT –

1. The applicant should be registered with the MSME Development Act, 2006 of the Government of India; or

2. The applicant should be –

a. A company registered under the Companies Act of the Government of India; and

b. Should satisfy the limit of investment in plant & machinery/ equipment as defined under MSME Development Act, 2006;

3. The applicant should be –

a. A registered ‘Software Technology Park’ STP unit; and

b. Should satisfy the limit of investment in plant & machinery/ equipment as defined under MSME Development Act, 2006;

4. The applicant should be –

a. A technology incubation enterprise; or

b. A startup located in an incubation centre or park; and

c. Registered as a company; and

d. Should satisfy the limit of investment in plant & machinery/ equipment as defined under MSME Development Act, 2006.

Steps for online filing of an application in the SIP-EIT scheme –

The applicant, willing to apply online under the SIP-EIT scheme, needs to follow the below steps –

STEP 1 – Accurately verify that the eligibility criteria are satisfied;

STEP 2 – Create a new account on the website of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology i.e., http://www.ict-ipr.in/sipeit/registration;

STEP 3 – Login to the website using the login credentials;

STEP 4 – Fill up the application form and submit (upload) all the required documents;

STEP 5 – Verify the documents and declaration; and

STEP 6 – Submit the application form.

List of documents required under the SIP-EIT –

Following are the list of documents required under the SIP-EIT scheme –

1. Registration proof (as per the eligibility criteria satisfied by the applicant);

2. Last Audited Balance Sheet (scan copy);

3. Scan copy of official filing with the Indian Patent Office for waiver u/s 39 for international filing (only if applied for waiver);

4. Proof of Patent Co-operation Treaty/ Paris convention/ direct international filing (only if international application already filed);

5. Scan copy of documentary proof substantiating the applicant being an employee/ member of the Board of Director;

6. Copy of technical write-up of the invention in specified format;

7. Patent search report;

8. Scan copy of details for transfer of e-payments as per specified format;

9. Scan copy of declaration form (signed and sealed) as per specified format.

Financial support available under the SIP-EIT Scheme –

Expenses incurred towards international patent protection will be reimbursed in instalments. Such reimbursement will be disbursed in the following manner –

Importantly, the total reimbursement, under the Scheme, will not exceed –

• Lower of –
  • INR 15 Lakhs; or
  • 50% of the total expenditure