China's intellectual property (IP) development increasingly focuses on quality over quantity. Recent initiatives by China's top IP regulator were presented at a press conference on July 29, 2024, highlighting the impact on economic growth and international engagement. Shen Changyu, director of CNIPA, reported that China now holds 12.9 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people, surpassing the national target set by 2025.

High-value patents from universities and research institutes are utilized in advanced, smart, and green industries, contributing to patent-intensive sectors that make up 12.7% of China's GDP.

To support emerging industries, China has improved the efficiency of patent examinations in big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and genetic technology. By the end of 2023, there were 378,000 effective AI invention patents in China, marking a 40% year-on-year increase and surpassing the global average growth rate by 1.4 times.

China has signed IP cooperation agreements with 57 countries and trained over 1,200 IP officials and practitioners internationally in the last decade. Chinese patents in these countries have been growing at an annual rate of 20%, particularly in digital and green technologies.

Foreign patent applications in China continue to rise, with 78,000 invention patents filed by foreign entities in the first half of this year, a 13.1% increase year-on-year. The highest number of applications came from Japan, followed by the United States and South Korea.

China is also enhancing its IP protection framework by strengthening legislation, improving dispute resolution mechanisms, and establishing communication channels to support foreign enterprises. The country plans to further international IP cooperation and align with high-standard global economic and trade rules to benefit foreign businesses.

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By Liliana Zhang