Scheme for Patent Filing under Virtual Innovation Register (VIR)

The Goa State Innovation Council (GSInC) runs a scheme to support provisional patent filings for individuals and entities registered on its Virtual Innovation Register (VIR). The program aims to increase IPR awareness and adoption among students, innovators, and startups, helping them protect and commercialise their creations through high-quality intellectual property services.

GSInC has empaneled a panel of patent attorneys and agents who handle the filing of provisional patent applications. The fee, capped at ₹10,000, is paid directly by GSInC to the appointed attorney, so the applicant faces no upfront costs and receives no direct cash. This subsidy covers only the attorney's fee on behalf of eligible applicants.

Objectives:

• Promote academic freedom and safeguard intellectual property creation.
• Provide a single-window reference system for all IPR issues related to academic intellectual property.
• Protect the interests of IP creators and ensure fair distribution of returns from commercialisation.
• Offer legal support to defend IPR against infringement or unauthorised use.
• Create an environment for acquiring new knowledge through innovation and research.

• Up to ₹10,000 patent filing subsidy
• Fees paid directly to patent attorneys
• Mandatory VIR registration
• Open to students, innovators, startups
• Focus on Goa-based innovators

Open to Indian citizens including students, startups, innovators, research faculty, and entrepreneurs who are registered under the Virtual Innovation Register (VIR) of GSInC. Eligible entity types include individuals, partnerships, LLPs, and private limited companies. While all sectors are welcome, preferred industries include Agri-tech, Digital media, Healthcare tech, Manufacturing, and ITES.

Scheme for Patent Filing under Virtual Innovation Register (VIR) is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Scheme for Patent Filing under Virtual Innovation Register (VIR) accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

This scheme offers support of up to ₹10,000 for filing a provisional patent application. The fee is directly paid by GSInC to its panel of empaneled patent attorneys/agents, meaning the applicant does not receive any direct cash. Beneficiaries gain access to high-quality IP services from these appointed legal professionals, facilitating the protection and potential commercialisation of their innovations without upfront legal costs.

Scheme for Patent Filing under Virtual Innovation Register (VIR) is offered by Goa State Innovation Council (GSInC), a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Applications are reviewed by the GSInC Selection Committee, which convenes once every three months to evaluate and approve projects for provisional patent filing. Decisions are communicated to applicants via email within 30 working days from the date of the committee meeting. All decisions made by the committee are final and binding.

Before you apply to Scheme for Patent Filing under Virtual Innovation Register (VIR), keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Scheme for Patent Filing under Virtual Innovation Register (VIR) is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.