County in Shandong emphasizes IP protection to build industries

In recent years, Caoxian county in East China's Shandong province has focused on raising public awareness of intellectual property and enhancing the ability of enterprises and institutions to utilize IP systems effectively.

To date, the county has been granted 5,331 patents, including 208 invention patents, 86 high-value invention patents, 2,328 utility model patents, and 2,732 design patents. Additionally, Caoxian county boasts 28,630 valid registered trademarks, ranking first in the Heze city for total volume and second in growth rate.

Recently, the county's IP center collaborated with local township governments to organize IP training sessions. These sessions, featuring theoretical instruction, case studies, and interactive activities, focused on topics such as rapid rights protection, expedited pre-examination, and the differences between patents and copyrights. Township officials and representatives from local enterprises also received patent training.

Ancailou town, recognized as the starting point of Caoxian's e-commerce and hanfu industries, holds nearly one-fifth of the national hanfu market share, earning its reputation as "China's No 1 Hanfu town".

In recent years, the county's IP protection center has worked extensively with enterprises in Ancailou, assisting them in applying for product development patents, safeguarding their IP achievements, and providing one-stop services such as policy consultation and patent application guidance. These efforts have reduced business startup costs and improved entrepreneurial efficiency.

To promote the high-quality development of Caoxian's performance apparel and forestry product industries, the county's IP protection center is committed to helping businesses grow their capacity to utilize and protect intellectual property. By prioritizing quality and efficiency improvements, the center aims to guide these key industries toward innovation and high-quality growth, which will revitalize the Made in Caoxian brand. (Edited by Zhang Ying)