Creativity advances as patent filings rise

An increase in overseas patent applications from Chinese applicants is a positive sign for China's innovation and economy, World Intellectual Property Organization Chief Economist Carsten Fink said.

According to the WIPO, China's patent office became the world's largest intellectual property office in 2012 in terms of the number of its patent applications, but Chinese patent applicants did not file their patents as frequently abroad in other countries as did those from the United States, Europe and Japan.

Fink said that a changing picture was observed as patent filings abroad by Chinese companies and research institutions have been growing rapidly.