Yes, a patent publication is considered a research work, but its academic value depends on context, purpose, and evaluation authority. This distinction is very important for PhD scholars, promotions, and indexing bodies, so let me explain it clearly and honestly.
A patent is the outcome of applied research and innovation. It proves that you have created something novel, useful, and non-obvious, which are core research qualities. From a research perspective, a patent demonstrates problem identification, technical solution design, experimental or developmental validation, and originality. In that sense, it is absolutely a legitimate research output.
However, academically, a patent is not treated the same way as a journal publication. Journals focus on knowledge dissemination and peer-reviewed validation, while patents focus on intellectual property protection. Because of this difference, universities and regulatory bodies classify them differently.
For PhD research, a patent is usually accepted as supporting research work, but not as a replacement for journal papers. Most universities allow patents to be included in a thesis as evidence of originality or innovation, especially in engineering, technology, pharmacy, and applied sciences. Some universities even allow a granted patent to strengthen a thesis, but they still require peer-reviewed journal publications for thesis submission or viva eligibility.
For UGC, AICTE, and university regulations in India, patents are recognized as research contributions, but they are normally placed in a separate category from SCI/Scopus journal papers. A granted patent carries more academic weight than a filed or published (but not granted) patent. Patent applications alone are rarely treated as equivalent to journal articles.
In faculty recruitment, promotion, and academic scoring systems, patents often earn points, but fewer than top-tier journal publications. Again, granted patents score higher than published applications, and international patents score higher than national ones.
For SCI and Scopus indexing, patents are not indexed because these databases index scholarly literature, not intellectual property documents. That does not reduce the technical value of a patent, but it explains why patents cannot replace SCI/Scopus publications in formal requirements.
In summary, a patent is a valid research output, especially for applied and industrial research, but it is complementary, not equivalent, to peer-reviewed journal publications. The strongest academic profile usually combines journal papers for theory and validation with patents for innovation and application.