GrantDept. of Industries, Govt. of Maharashtra

Maharashtra Startup Policy 2023 — Patent & IP Reimbursement

Reimbursement of up to ₹5 Lakhs for patent filing and IP registration costs for DPIIT-recognised Maharashtra startups under the Maharashtra Startup Policy 2023. Covers Indian Patent Office filing fees, PCT international patent fees, patent agent professional fees, and trademark/design registration fees. Claimable separately from the Market Development Assistance incentive under the same policy. Annual claim; up to 3 financial years from DPIIT recognition date. One of the higher patent reimbursement caps among state startup policies.

Maximum amount
₹5.0L
Typical payout
₹2.5L
Processing time
6–12 weeks
Application window
Rolling — claims accepted throughout the financial year, up to 3 years from DPIIT recognition.

Check if your startup qualifies for Maharashtra Startup Policy 2023 — Patent & IP Reimbursement

Answer a few questions about your company and get a free, personalised eligibility report across all active government schemes — including MH Startup Patent.

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Eligibility criteria

Company type
Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company
Stage
Pre-Revenue, Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr), Growth Stage (₹1Cr–₹25Cr)
States
Maharashtra
Sectors
ai, saas, fintech, healthtech, agritech, edtech, cleantech, iot, deep_tech, biotech, manufacturing, other
Prerequisites
  • DPIIT Startup India recognition required

Documents required

1
DPIIT Recognition Certificate
Valid DPIIT Certificate of Recognition from Startup India portal — must have been active when the IP filing costs were incurred. Maharashtra Startup Cell verifies recognition status before processing any claim.
Tip: Download from startupindia.gov.in. Maharashtra is the state of the startup for DPIIT verification — confirm Maharashtra is selected as primary state. Ensure recognition has not expired.
2
Entity Incorporation Certificate
Certificate of Incorporation for the Maharashtra startup entity claiming the reimbursement. Maharashtra registered or operational address required.
Tip: If registered elsewhere, provide a Maharashtra operational address proof (office lease, utility bill) to confirm Maharashtra nexus.
3
Patent Filing Receipt or Grant Certificate
IPO filing receipt (Form 1 acknowledgement), patent grant certificate, PCT international filing receipt from WIPO, or Trade Marks Registry application receipt (for trademark reimbursement). Primary evidence that IP was filed/registered.
Tip: For recently filed patents, the Form 1 acknowledgement from IPO suffices — you do not need to wait for grant. For PCT filings, the WIPO international filing receipt with Indian filing date is the key document.
4
CA Certificate — IP Filing and Agent Invoices
CA certificate summarising total eligible IP expenditure (IPO/TM Registry official fees + patent/trademark agent professional fees) for the claim period, with original invoices attached, certified with UDIN.
Tip: Attach all invoices including fee receipts from IPO and agent engagement letters. Agent invoices must be on the registered agent firm letterhead with membership number. UDIN is mandatory.
5
Bank Account Details (Cancelled Cheque)
Cancelled cheque for entity current account for reimbursement credit.
Tip: Account must be in the startup entity name — not a founder personal account. Name must match DPIIT certificate.
6
Audited Financial Statements (If >1 Year Old)
Conditional — startups that have completed more than 1 full financial year must submit audited accounts for the most recent year as evidence of ongoing operations.
Tip: New startups in first year may submit CA-certified provisional accounts.

How to apply for MH Startup Patent

1
File the patent at IPO or register the trademark/design at Trade Marks Registry — retain all official receipts and payment records.Open portal
2
Register on Startup Maharashtra portal and log in with DPIIT credentials.Open portal
3
Submit the Patent & IP Reimbursement claim form with DPIIT certificate, incorporation certificate, IPO/TM filing receipt, and CA certificate with invoices.
4
The Maharashtra Startup Cell reviews within 4–6 weeks — approved reimbursement credited to entity account.
5
Multiple IP filings in a year can be bundled in a single annual claim — the ₹5L cap applies to the total per financial year.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for MH Startup Patent?

MH Startup Patent is available to Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company companies at the Pre-Revenue, Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr), Growth Stage (₹1Cr–₹25Cr) stage, across Maharashtra. DPIIT Startup India recognition is mandatory.

How much funding does MH Startup Patent provide?

MH Startup Patent provides up to ₹5.0L. Most applicants receive around ₹2.5L.

How long does MH Startup Patent approval take?

The typical processing time from submission to disbursement is 6–12 weeks.

Is MH Startup Patent currently accepting applications?

Yes, MH Startup Patent is currently active and accepting applications. Application window: Rolling — claims accepted throughout the financial year, up to 3 years from DPIIT recognition..

Do I need DPIIT recognition to apply for MH Startup Patent?

Yes, DPIIT Startup India recognition is mandatory. Register at startupindia.gov.in before applying for MH Startup Patent.

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Information is based on publicly available scheme guidelines. Always verify with official sources before applying.