What would it take to create one of Israel’s best-known missile shields, the Iron Dome, in India? While the technology is patented in Israel, the patent is territorial. This means there isn’t a lot stopping Indian researchers and developers from recreating the Iron Dome within India. Especially since its blueprint has been available in the public domain since 2013.
This situation is not unique to the Iron Dome. At the ‘Emerging Technologies Shaping Modern Defence’ tech talk hosted by IP Bazzaar and RIPA, it was noted that out of all patented products globally, just 1-2% are patented in India. This leaves us with a vast amount of technology that can be replicated within the country without the need to invest substantial resources into redeveloping products from scratch.
However, while this sounds like an easy solution, its practical application is complex. India would need to adopt advanced solutions, such as integration of IPR in curriculum, leveraging patented analytics in R&D, fostering a technology-conducive environment, and strengthening technology readiness levels (TRL). Still, Cmde (Dr.) Arun Pratap Golaya (Retd) cautions against solely relying on patents. Citing Elon Musk’s view that “Patents are for the weak”—despite Musk later patenting several technologies—Golaya emphasized that innovation cannot thrive by merely looking backward. He argued, “You cannot always look back and march forward.”
Golaya also highlighted the critical role of battlefield innovation. “The Russia-Ukraine conflict has shown that it can’t be business as usual. In wars like these where ready stockpiles are not enough, it all comes down to search capabilities and innovation. People are innovating on the battlefield, so everyone has to start doing things differently now!” This underscores the need for India to foster a culture of continuous innovation rather than relying solely on existing patents.
Medha Kaushik, Director of Special Projects & Tech Transfer at IP Bazaar, agrees. She noted that using patented technology comes with pros and cons. “Patents are just a tool to motivate people to innovate further. Without them, innovation could stagnate. However, globally, over five lakh patents have been filed, while one data set suggests that India has only filed 9,345 patents in the last ten years—with just a fraction in the defence sector.” This statistic illustrates the significant opportunity India has to bolster its innovation ecosystem.
One solution lies in promoting academic research in defence technology (deftech) while understanding the needs of defence personnel. Bridging the gap between industry, academia, and defence stakeholders is essential to address real-world challenges. Maj Gen (Dr.) Ashok Kumar (Retd) echoed this sentiment during a panel discussion. He pointed out, “There is a huge gap between battlefield requirements, boardrooms, and R&D establishments. While technology is being exclusively developed for the defence sector, it must have civilian applications to make it financially viable. Dual-use products are the future.”
For India to shape its defence technology landscape effectively, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. Mr. Naveen Coomar, President of RIPA, emphasized the need to build a robust IP ecosystem can be a transformative step toward achieving the goal of becoming the third-largest economy for Bharat. This includes fostering innovation in academia, incentivizing collaboration between industry and defence, and embracing dual-use technology to ensure sustainability. By addressing these transition gaps and leveraging both existing patents and indigenous innovation, India can enhance its capabilities and emerge as a leader in defence technology.
