On June 23, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), alongside five key ministries, launched a forward-looking pilot program aimed at reshaping the intellectual property landscape across six major innovation hubs: Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

This initiative, rooted in China’s broader economic modernization agenda, focuses on tailoring IP services to local needs through a “one city, one policy” model. Local authorities are expected to submit customized implementation plans by mid-July, outlining how they’ll strengthen their regional IP ecosystems.

The pilot’s core tasks span four pillars: enhancing market mechanisms for IP, improving legal protections, boosting global cooperation, and optimizing government services. On the patent side, the program targets reforms in pre-examination processes, regional patent quality control, and the handling of abnormal filings. By expanding IP centers’ authority and implementing real-time supervision, China aims to elevate the credibility and precision of its patent system.

Equally important is the initiative’s support for tech transfer, especially in research institutions and hospitals. From IP-based financing tools to new insurance products, the program integrates financial innovation with IP commercialization. The inclusion of AI-driven service platforms further indicates a move toward more user-friendly, digital-first IP governance.

Liliana ZHANG

Trademark and Patent Attorney

l.zhang@so-ipr.com

+86 10 8446 4788