Unequal Partners or Powerful Alliances?
The Truth About Collaboration in Global Innovation
Interview with
Dr. Thomas Leiber and Chetan Maini
Dr. Thomas Leiber
LinkedinChetan Maini
LinkedinINTRODUCTION
As innovation stalls in traditionally dominant economies like Germany, a quiet revolution is taking place in emerging markets such as India, China, and Brazil. These fast-growing regions are no longer just sources of low-cost manufacturing—they're becoming engines of bold, agile innovation. In this new landscape, collaboration across borders, sectors, and company sizes is no longer a strategic choice; it’s a survival imperative.
In this in-depth conversation, two visionary leaders—Dr. Thomas Leiber, a prolific German innovator and entrepreneur, and Chetan Maini, the Indian pioneer behind the country’s first electric car, shed light on what it takes to thrive in today’s global innovation ecosystem. From the critical role of intellectual property in levelling the playing field to the cultural and structural shifts needed for true startup-corporate collaboration, Leiber and Maini challenge outdated assumptions and offer a roadmap for transformative partnerships.
Together, they explore a crucial question: Can established and emerging players move beyond unequal transactions to build equitable, trust-based alliances that drive real progress?
This series of articles on “Unequal Partners or Powerful Alliances? The Truth About Collaboration in Global Innovation” goes beyond theory to examine what innovation looks like in practice—from AI-enhanced IP strategies to frugal engineering in fast-moving markets—and reveals how smart partnerships can turn creative ideas into world-changing impact.
About the Interviewees
Dr. Thomas Leiber
Entrepreneur & Innovator in Automotive and Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Thomas Leiber is a renowned entrepreneur and innovator with nearly 500 patents across electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, pioneering the fail-safe brake-by-wire technology now installed in 30% of new cars. With degrees from TU Berlin and from TU Graz (Ph.D) and post-doc studies from Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), he blends deep technical expertise with strategic insight from McKinsey & Company. Leiber has launched ten companies across five countries, including LSP Innovative Automotive Systems and ipgate AG. The son of ABS inventor Heinz Leiber, he continues the family legacy of breakthrough innovation. He is also an angel investor, startup mentor, and philanthropist supporting renewable energy, education, and medical research through the Leiber Family Foundation.
‘I grew up surrounded by innovation, and now my focus is on building bridges between companies and cultures—turning intellectual property into real-world impact through collaboration, strategy, and future technologies.’
Thomas Leiber
Chetan Maini
Co-founder of SUN Mobility & Pioneer of Electric Vehicles in India
Chetan Maini is a trailblazing entrepreneur best known for developing India’s first electric car, the REVA, in 1999. With degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and Stanford, he has spent over two decades advancing clean mobility. As founder of Reva Electric (now Mahindra Electric) and co-founder of SUN Mobility, Maini holds over 30 global patents in EV energy systems. He has also influenced national EV policy through his work with Indian government boards. Recognized by BBC Top Gear and Businessweek as one of India’s most influential innovators, Maini remains a driving force in global sustainable transport.
‘Innovation and climate have always been at the heart of what I do, and I truly believe that now is the time to make a difference.’
Chetan Maini
Part 1:
The Power of Intellectual Property in Driving Global Innovation
For a long time, intellectual property (IP) has been a numbers game dominated by established companies in mature markets, leaving many entrepreneurs—especially those in emerging markets—reluctant to enter the competitive landscape. As a result, countless innovations remained unprotected, and even when safeguarded, monetizing them was often nearly impossible.
But the tide is turning. Globalization and the rise of emerging economies have shifted the balance. These countries are building impressive patent portfolios, especially China, which is now leading the world in the number of annual patent applications. And with AI increasingly helping innovators draft patents and safeguard their creations, it’s becoming clear that, with the right strategy, IP can be leveraged regardless of company size. And as AI evolves, the importance of intellectual property and protecting innovations only grows stronger, especially for emerging markets and startups.
“I believe Intellectual Property becomes even more crucial as Artificial Intelligence advances. Once your know-how is embedded in AI tools, it becomes much easier for others to detect and potentially replicate it—making strong protection essential. As a consequence, know-how protection becomes extremely difficult as one cannot stop employees from feeding Large Language Models (LLMs) with know-how. Grok-3 (LLM from xAI) surprised me with its very detailed technical know-how on Brake Systems, for instance.”
Thomas Leiber
Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Leiber highlights the challenges and opportunities of protecting innovation in this changing environment.
Over the years, he has focused on protecting core IP rights, often facing a David versus Goliath battle against large brake manufacturers. Despite being a smaller player, he stresses that a carefully curated IP portfolio can be remarkably powerful. This presents a significant opportunity for emerging economies like India, where creativity abounds. With strong IP frameworks, these countries can shift from being mere suppliers to true, eye-to-eye partners with major corporations in Europe and the US. Mr. Leiber is confident this move toward equitable collaboration will define the future of innovation not only in India but across many emerging markets.
‘I’m confident this move toward equitable collaboration will define the future of innovation not only in India but across many emerging markets.’
Chetan Maini
Mr. Maini agrees, noting a clear shift in the patent landscape. Indian companies are increasingly recognizing IP’s importance—not only to protect innovation domestically but also to build a stronger global presence. While India has shown particular strength in IP-heavy sectors like pharmaceuticals and drug discovery, progress in other areas is still ongoing.
One major challenge in emerging markets remains a lack of awareness. Many innovators have great ideas but are unsure how—or even whether—to protect them. Yet, Mr. Maini observes a positive trend:
“Newer-generation companies are beginning to prioritise IP, with dedicated legal teams and departments making IP protection a core part of their strategy.”
This marks a crucial step toward embedding intellectual property at the heart of innovation.
Still, systemic hurdles persist. Patent registration can be slow, and legal infrastructures often lack the expertise to handle complex IP cases effectively. The current legal framework in many places, including India, is not yet strong enough to ensure consistent, nationwide IP enforcement.
According to Mr. Maini, the way forward lies in maturing two key areas: raising awareness among innovators and strengthening the legal systems that support them.
“While there are still gaps, there are also areas where India is already performing quite well.”
he adds. Continued progress in these domains will be vital for building a more effective and dynamic IP ecosystem—one capable of driving sustainable innovation for the future.
While a stronger focus on IP protection is essential to stay competitive, it is equally important not to let it stifle innovation. As Mr. Leiber stresses,
“A common dilemma for many inventors is staying focused solely on the act of inventing. While holding numerous patents doesn’t inherently limit creativity, innovation can stall if those patents aren’t followed by meaningful action. Having a great idea is only the starting point—you need to protect it, nurture its development, learn from the journey, and continuously expand your portfolio. In this way, protection and progress go hand in hand, fueling lasting innovation.”
He also emphasizes the need to market patents effectively, reminding us that innovation locked away is innovation lost. “True value comes when others can build on your innovation and help bring it to life.”
This idea resonates strongly with Mr. Maini, who often challenges his teams with a provocative question:
“How do you make yourself obsolete?”
You may have developed something valuable, but the goal is to keep moving forward. Others may adopt what you've built—but by then, you should already be working on the next step. That’s how you lead the curve.”
‘The art of patent drafting is expanding to include these newer forms of innovation.’
Thomas Leiber
Finally, both experts agree that IP goes far beyond patents. While patents remain critical, today’s intellectual property landscape is much broader. The complexity of software and integrated systems means that creating a full product or solution involves many forms of IP that patents alone may not capture.
Patents enable and protect innovation, but the structure and composition of IP portfolios are evolving. Going forward, companies must rethink how they define, protect, and leverage their IP. With the rise of AI, protecting intellectual assets becomes even more complex. Know-how a complements patents, and software can be protected if claims are carefully drafted. In some jurisdictions, such as the U.S., even certain business methods may be patentable. The art of patent drafting is expanding to include these newer forms of innovation.
Mr. Leiber likens patent strategy to a game of chess: innovators must anticipate how others might design around their ideas and refine their claims accordingly.
“If your patent is substantial and original, you will have priority. However, you cannot claim anything that is not explicitly disclosed in the patent application. Drafting a good patent is an art. It should follow the MECE principle – Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive. That means that your claims must be clearly distinct from prior art (mutually exclusive), yet the patent should cover all relevant aspects of your innovation (collectively exhaustive). A patent stands on its own – it is like a self-contained book. You cannot refer to external inventions or rely on undisclosed elements.”
Mr. Maini concludes:
“As the IP landscape grows more complex, striking the right balance between protecting ideas and enabling innovation is more important than ever.”
Unlocking Innovation:
6 Essential IP Strategies
1
Protect Your Know-How Early and Strategically
As AI tools increasingly expose embedded knowledge, safeguarding your core intellectual property becomes crucial. Focus on protecting the know-how of your innovations with a proprietary Large Language Model that only the inventors and your trustworthy team members have access to.
2
Build Awareness and Educate Your Team
Ensure your team understands the importance of IP protection and how to navigate the patent process and to protect know-how in the dynamically evolving know-how base of LLM. Emerging companies benefit greatly by embedding IP awareness into their culture and establishing dedicated legal support early on.
3
Don’t Just Patent Once—think strategically and act
Having patents is only the start. Develop, nurture, and actively manage your IP portfolio by carefully drafting your patent claims and focusing on protecting all core aspects of your innovation by drafting various independent main claims, potentially structured in divisional patent applications. Innovation flourishes when protection is paired with ongoing development, commercialization, strategic expansion, and continuous development of your IP portfolio.
4
Patent Early (PE) & (Right Time, Right Place, Right People (RRR approach) - think beyond patents
It’s never too early to protect an idea with a patent application. But true innovation also depends on timing, collaboration, and context. Choose your partners wisely — both inside and outside your organization. Even with an NDA, avoid sharing critical know-how too soon. Waiting until your patent is published raises the bar for others to claim or repurpose your idea.
5
Apply the MECE-Principle
Structure patent claims so that each is clearly distinct from the others (Mutually Exclusive) while together they fully cover the inventive concept (Collectively Exhaustive)—ensuring no redundancy and no innovation gaps.
6
Stay Ahead by Innovating Continuously
Innovation doesn't stop at a breakthrough. While others may eventually catch up to your ideas, true leadership means you're already exploring what's next—setting the pace rather than following it.