China has launched a new state-level fast-track IP protection center in Shenzhen’s Futian District, aiming to support rapid design innovation, particularly in the fashion industry. Announced by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the center will streamline the processing of design patent applications, cutting the approval time from six months to under three months.

Futian District, a fashion industry hub with over 2,000 fashion enterprises and an industrial cluster valued at CNY 120 billion (approx. EUR 15.5 billion), is strategically positioned for the new IP center. The facility is intended to help local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) quickly secure IP rights, deter counterfeiting, and attract design talent—ultimately enhancing the global competitiveness of China’s design and fashion sectors.

Design patents remain a key focus for China, which approved 638,000 such patents in 2023 and led the world in international design filings in 2024. This new center is the 49th in China's growing network of fast-track IPR centers, joining locations like Yiwu and Shantou, which serve industries with fast-moving product development cycles.

The Shenzhen center is part of China's broader strategy to strengthen its IP infrastructure and foster innovation across critical economic sectors.

If you have any inquiries regarding intellectual property matters in Greater China, please don’t hesitate to contact us at mail@so-ipr.com.

Annie MOU

Senior Trademark Attorney

a.mou@so-ipr.com

+86 10 8446 4788