In a first for the Tata group, three Tata companies — TCS, Tata Steel and Tata Motors — won the CII Industrial IP Award 2020. Each company has won many such national IPR awards earlier, but this is the first time that three Tata companies have won it in the same year. The wins constitute a landmark in the IPR journey of the Tata group.
TCS’s 3P vision of patents, products and platforms enhances its suites of products and platforms and fosters a culture of innovation. TCS Research and Innovation and other business units continue to enable scaling of the patents, products and platforms strategy across the organisation and align it with the company’s focus on the growth and transformation agenda. As of September 30, 2020, TCS has applied for 5,500 patent applications, and 1,593 patents have been granted.
Tata Steel has a long history of exploiting the power of IP — 23,000 tons of high-tensile alloy steel supplied for the construction of the iconic Howrah Bridge was a trademarked product called ‘TISCROM’ (trademark filed in 1942). Having filed its first patent in 1938, Tata Steel today owns a patent portfolio of more than 1,200 patent families and over 1,000 granted patents. Over 40 percent of the granted portfolio has also been granted in many of the foreign jurisdictions (such as US, EP, AU, CN JP, etc).
At Tata Motors, the following three strategic initiatives are undertaken to nurture an IPR-conducive culture – creating awareness, structured and strategic approach for IP filing, and providing the right motivation. As a result of its strategic approach, Tata Motors has filed a total of 1,489 patents (1,138 filed in India and 351 filed abroad). Out of the total 1,489 number of patents filed, currently 632 patents are granted (India: 494, and foreign: 138), and the remaining being under the examination stage. Out of all the said patents filed / granted, the patent / patent applications related to the technology of ‘two cylinder engines (petrol and diesel)’ are pioneered by Tata Motors and has provided business benefits internally and externally.
