There has been a surge in the demand of patent analysts in India in the last 5 years.

If you’re a pharmacy or a biotechnology graduate, you might think that you’re destined for a pharmaceutical job, performing quality assurance/checks day in and day out. 

And there aren’t that many suitable job options for you. Right?

Think again. 

Because there’s a unique opportunity that you might have missed. 

An opportunity that leverages your unique skills as a science graduate in a corporate setting.

(Even if you’re a BSc or an MSc graduate.)

So, if you want to avoid tough lab work and build a lucrative 9-to-5 career, you might want to consider becoming a patent analyst. 

It’s a unique career that benefits from your analytical mind as a science student.

But first… 

What does a patent analyst do?

They help companies navigate the IP (intellectual property) landscape.

These companies are often in need of individuals who can help them with their IP strategy. They need people who have experience in their respective industries and are aware of all the technicalities. 

As a patent analyst, you’ll be helping them analyze market trends, competitor IP portfolios, and industry developments to contribute in the development of an effective long-term IP strategy.

Which often includes conducting various patent searches, such as:

• Patentability search
• Validity/invalidity search
• Freedom-to-operate search
• Infringement search
• State-of-the-art search

In short, you’ll conduct thorough research and analysis of patent databases and documents to identify relevant information.

And as we’ll see, this can be a very attractive career for science graduates who want to pursue a white-collar job with a proper work-life balance. 

Rising demand of patent analysts

India is showing its exceptional innovative strength. Especially in fields like healthcare, software development, and AI. 

In 2023 alone, people filed 90,309 patents, the highest number of patents filed in the last 2 decades. 

That’s 247 patent filings daily!

In the same year, more than 75,000 patents received approval. 

Source: SBI Research and Indian Patent Office report, 24 January 2024

And the demand seems to be increasing consistently over the years.

This means businesses are going to need more and more people who can understand the IP landscape and help them navigate it.

They need people from scientific backgrounds, like you, who can understand and analyze complex scientific patents so they can make better decisions.

Not only this, but the government is aiming to nurture this innovative space. They’re simplifying compliance processes and passing favorable acts (such as Jan Vishwas Act), which will further boost these numbers.

So, patent analysts can expect excellent job stability in this industry for years to come. 

You know what else this high demand means? Competitive salary. 

It’s supply-demand 101. The higher the demand, the more money everyone has to pay to get patent analysts.

In fact, patent analysts are some of the highest-paid professionals in India.

Even today, the average salary of a patent analyst in India is around ₹4,57,500 per annum.

And you can tell, by looking at the numbers, that it’s only going to increase in the coming years (not to mention with seniority and experience). 

Better yet, as a pharmacy or a biotech graduate, you can specialize as a patent analyst working only with pharmaceutical companies. Which makes you even more valuable.

Also, remember that many of these companies are huge multinational brands. So, you could get international exposure (along with international salaries).

Best of all, you’re a student of science. You’re someone who craves and thrives on intellectual challenges. 

And as a patent analyst, you’ll be operating at the intersection of business, law and technology. 

You’ll work with legal and business teams to do IP due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and licensing deals. 

It can be quite stimulating to work at the forefront of innovation and analyze cutting-edge technologies.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, innovation in India is booming, and even the government is supporting it in various ways. By simplifying the regulations and streamlining the process.

So if you want to avoid harsh lab conditions, build a lucrative corporate career for yourself with a proper work-life balance, you might want to consider becoming a patent analyst.

This might be one of the best times to become a patent analyst in India.