From Innovation to Enterprise: the Role of Patent Law in Promoting Entrepreneurship and Start-Ups in India

AbstractInnovation drives entrepreneurship, technological progress and economic growth. For technology-based start-ups, patent protection helps transform innovative ideas into viable businesses by safeguarding inventions and facilitating investment, licensing, technology transfer and market expansion. This paper examines how patent law supports entrepreneurship and start-ups in India, focusing on the Patents Act, 1970, National IPR Policy, 2016, Start-up India and SIPP. It highlights challenges such as costs, limited awareness, procedural complexities and commercialization gaps. The study concludes that patents can promote innovation and competitiveness, but their success depends on broader support through finance, incubation, technology transfer and effective enforcement.