China files one-third of patent claims

Country shifts from manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy

China was responsible for one-third of the world's patent applications last year, once again driving strong global growth despite stalling innovation in Europe and Japan, the World Intellectual Property Organization said on Tuesday.

New figures confirm that "strategically, the country ... is on a journey from 'made in China' to 'created in China', away from manufacturing to more knowledge-intensive industries", said WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.