Tata Group to double patent base in three years to 4,000

MUMBAI: Tata Group plans to double its patent base to more than 4000 in the next three years as it pushes through innovation in the century old conglomerate, its first chief technology officer (CTO) Gopichand Katragadda said.

Chairman Cyrus Mistry hired Katragadda from General Electric last year in a bid to boost its research and development operations and also create technology strategies for its diverse group companies.

Katragadda said $100 billion Tata Group will be doing patent analytics, road mapping innovation and helping employees with patent filing advice. He said more awareness regarding patent publication and filing is required. The group recently a concluded a training programme on technology road mapping for company CTOs.

In the last ten years the group had a 15 fold increase in innovation across its 70 companies since it started an annual competition of ideas called Tata Innovista. The top 60 projects this year are expected to deliver a financial benefit of $1.1 billion annually. The group expects its employees to come up with more such ideas that can be patented.

"We will have to make it easier and create a platform for the employees via social media amongst others to encourage more innovation. We have recognition at different level right from regional rounds and ensure they get support from their teams and company," said S Padmanabhan, executive chairman at Tata Quality Management Services, Tata Sons.

Sustainable energy, food and wellness, consumer electronics and factory and fleet digitalization are focus areas at the group level, said Katragadda.