Image Credit: Xinhua News
China’s intellectual property (IP) sector is transitioning towards prioritizing quality over-expansion, as revealed by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) at a press conference on Monday. This shift, aimed at enhancing economic growth and international engagement, underscores China’s evolving approach to IP development.
Shen Changyu, CNIPA’s head, highlighted the country’s progress in generating high-value IP, noting that by June, China’s high-value invention patents had reached 12.9 per 10,000 people, exceeding the 2025 target. Shen emphasized that these patents, particularly from universities and research institutions, are increasingly applied in advanced industries such as smart and green technologies. He reported that patent-intensive sectors now contribute 12.7 percent to China’s GDP, showcasing IP’s role in spurring innovative growth.
The press conference also underscored China’s advancements in AI, with CNIPA data revealing 378,000 effective AI invention patents by the end of 2023—a growth rate of over 40 percent, significantly higher than the global average. China leads globally in generative AI patent applications, reflecting robust innovation within the digital economy, according to senior CNIPA official Ge Shu.
On the international front, Shen detailed China’s proactive engagement in global IP governance, including agreements with 57 Belt and Road Initiative partners and training for over 1,200 IP officials from these countries. The number of foreign patent applications in China surged by 13.1 percent in the first half of this year, with Japan leading in filings. Hu Wenhui, CNIPA’s deputy commissioner, emphasized China’s commitment to creating a fair business environment and improving IP protection for foreign enterprises, receiving commendations from international companies.