Consolidating its IP repertoire, L&T Electrical & Automation (E&A) yet again filed more than 100 Patent applications for its electrical and automation products during 2011-2012. This is the fifth consecutive year that E&A has achieved this feat and led the march for creation of intellectual property within various group companies of Larsen & Toubro. 

E&A filed 162 Patents applications along with 16 Trademark applications, 10 Design registrations and 9 Copyrights in 2011-12 which is an improved performance over the previous year. It also filed 10 international Patent applications through PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) during the year. From 1999-2000 to 2011-12, E&A has filed 856 Patent applications, 256 Design registrations, 110 Trademark applications and 20 Copyright applications. 

Speaking on this performance, the Senior Vice President & Head of E&A, Mr. S. C. Bhargava, said: “This feat has been achieved with continuous improvement in processes and regular investment in Research & Development. We encourage and facilitate creative thinking and provide an ecosystem that is conducive to innovation in various products & solutions in the electrical and automation space.”   

E&A has recently earned rich recognition for its protection of intellectual property and the development of a diverse portfolio of designs in fields including electrical, mechanical, marine engineering, defence infrastructure, healthcare and engineering at the 4th National IP Award 2012 to encourage intellectual property creators, contributing towards a strong innovation ecosystem in the country. 

At the awards ceremony organized by Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on April 26, 2012 at New Delhi on the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day, E&A received the top two intellectual property awards - ‘The Top Indian Private Company (Large Scale) in Patents 2012’ and ‘The Top Indian Organization in Designs 2012’. The awards were given away by Mr. Saurabh Chandra, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.

Speaking on this accolade, Bhargava said, “The award is a tribute to E&A’s engineering team that works in products’ design and development. Effective management of the IPR activity has seen a steady rise in the protection of E&A’s intellectual wealth.”  This is what gives E&A the sustainable competitive advantage to maintain its market leadership. In this context, Mr. Bhargava added, “We focus on technology research and development for supporting business development. The Patent applications have largely emanated out of economic needs, to retain competitive advantage, remain environmental friendly and deliver more safety and value to our customers.  It has been with a view to promoting entry into new business areas, business diversification and global expansion of production and marketing operations so as to foster effective utilization of intellectual property rights.”