Intellectual property (IP) refers to any original creation resulting from human intellect, encompassing technical and scientific inventions as well as literary and artistic works. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are legal rights granted to inventors or creators to protect their innovations or creations for a specified period. These rights give the inventor or creator, or their assignee, exclusive control over the use of their invention or work during this time. IPRs are seen as essential for fostering innovation, promoting investment in science and technology, and safeguarding the interest of innovators. The importance of IPRs has grown significantly with the advent of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) fulfils its mission of advancing public health through biomedical research via its network of permanent institutes, centres, and an extramural research support system. This system provides grants to investigators across various institutions, including IITs, universities, and medical colleges. For over a century, ICMR-supported scientists—both those working within its institutes (intramural) and external researchers (extramural)—have conducted high-quality research to achieve these goals. Any new data or findings generated in the laboratory are swiftly published to ensure wide dissemination and application for the public good.