Galgotias University's Patent Filings Expose Systemic Exploitation, Sparks Debate Among Netizens

Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Galgotias University, a private institution located in Noida, has been in the headlines for the past few days for various reasons, including using a display of commercially available robotic dog during the recently held AI summit. The university is now rumoured to have filed over 1,089 patents in 2022-23, more than double the number filed by all IITs combined, as per claims by several social media users.

Some users release publicly available reports regarding large number of patents across multiple years. An X user, Priyanshu Ratnakar, claimed that Galgotias University filed a very high number of patent applications, citing data from India’s Intellectual Property office, adding that this is why the university appeared among the top academic filers that year.

Read Also: Neha Singh Expelled From Galgotias University After AI Summit Robodog Controversy?

The University, which is touted as one of the youngest and fastest growing institutions, has appeared among top institutions in recent national and international rankings (such as QS World University Rankings 2026 and Times Higher Education 2025). Though India’s innovation ecosystem has been touted as a bright spot in the country’s economy, with universities and research institutions filing a record number of patents in recent years, many of these patents, including that of Galgotias University, were not the result of groundbreaking research or innovation.

Rather, it is said that the institution climbed the ladder through clever exploitation of the system. It is said that the university could file this number of patents due to the lucrative incentives offered by the government. “They figured out the cheat code. Filing a patent in India costs ₹1,600. Govt reimburses up to ₹2 lakh per filing. That’s a 125x return. Before the patent does anything. So universities found the playbook: file 1000 patents → collect ₹20cr → boost NIRF rank → attract more students → collect fees → repeat,” the user pointed out.

Read Also: Galgotias University Asked To Leave AI Summit After Chinese Robodog Row: Report

“India ranks 5th globally in patent applications. Last among the top 6 in grant rate. Japan converts 70% of filings into grants. We convert 40%. We ain’t building but chasing the wrong metrics. And the worst part? The system rewards them. NIRF counts raw filings, not grants, so the incentive is to file garbage at scale, not build real IP. This is what happens when you optimize for the scoreboard instead of the game. We’re perfect at looking innovative. Not as good at being it. The fix is simple btw: reimburse at grant stage, not filing stage. Tie incentives to commercialization. Weigh NIRF on grants, not applications. But simple fixes don’t happen when the people gaming the system are also the ones writing the policy,” the user wrote on X.

TIL galgotias university files more patents than all IITs combined.

not because they’re innovating. bcz they figured out the cheat code.

filing a patent in india costs ₹1,600.

govt reimburses up to ₹2 lakh per filing.

that’s a 125x return. before the patent does anything.… https://t.co/uYNqGllFE3 pic.twitter.com/zgJ8ihMj7c

— Priyanshu Ratnakar (@0xratnakar) February 20, 2026

Another discussion on Reddit echoed the same issue with Galgotias University, suggesting why it appeared among the top academic filers. Galgotias University filed a very high number of patent applications (more than double of what all IITs filed), about 1,089 in 2022–23, based on data cited from India’s Intellectual Property office. This is why it appeared among the top academic filers that year. “Patent filing and patent grant are not the same. Grants typically take several years after examination, so same-year comparisons are misleading,” the Reddit post stated.

Read Also: PM Modi Is Not A Graduate Of Galgotias University; Satire Goes Viral

The issue comes days after the AI Summit controversy in connection with Galgotias University. The incident forced an apology from the institute as it reportedly displayed a commercially available robotic dog during the exhibition.

Notably, the consequences of such practices are far-reaching, including the loss of India’s innovation ecosystem. The government needs to take a hard look at the incentives it’s offering and tie them to patent grants and commercialization, rather than just filings to address such issues.