AI-IP synergy expected to drive industrial growth, innovation

China has made steady gains in the quality of intellectual property innovation and strengthened innovation-driven industries, an IP administration official said on Wednesday.

Patents in next-generation technologies — including artificial intelligence, the internet, cloud computing and big data — now account for 16.5 percent of China's total valid invention patents, Rui Wenbiao, spokesperson for the China National Intellectual Property Administration, said at a news conference.

"The growing number of patents in these frontier fields is fueling new drivers of economic growth," said Rui, who is also a deputy commissioner of the administration.

By the end of June, China held 2.36 million high-value invention patents, or 16.8 for every 10,000 people, reflecting the country's growing innovation capacity, he added.

Rui described the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period as pivotal for expanding the digital economy.

"With AI as a core growth engine, the synergy between AI and intellectual property is both a natural driver of industrial development and a vital part of innovation services," he said.

To support that goal, the administration is refining AI-related systems and patent examination standards for emerging and future-oriented industries, including embodied AI and brain-computer interfaces. It is also stepping up efforts to facilitate trademark registration for AI-related businesses and deepening participation in shaping international intellectual property rules, technical standards and governance frameworks for AI, Rui said.

Liu Yi, head of the administration's Department of Treaty and Law, said China will strengthen research over the next five years on trademark registration and patent examination standards to address complex issues arising from AI technologies. The country will also seek to expand its influence in formulating international IP rules in fields including AI, medical diagnostics and green technologies.

Liu Bin, an IP lawyer at Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, said the latest figures point to a notable shift in the composition of China's patent portfolio.

"AI, the internet, cloud computing and big data are moving beyond buzzwords to become foundational enablers of industrial innovation, with research and development, talent and capital flowing steadily into these sectors," he said.

According to Liu, the growing number of patents in frontier technologies will accelerate AI integration into manufacturing, the automotive industry, healthcare and finance, shifting competition from standalone products to broader ecosystems built around algorithms, data, software, hardware and application scenarios. The patents can also support technology licensing, financing, mergers and acquisitions, and standard-setting, helping create new industrial chains and growth opportunities, he added.

Liu welcomed the administration's efforts to improve patent examination standards, noting that AI-related innovations often involve algorithms, model architectures, training methods, parameters, code and AI-generated content.

"It is still unclear which elements can be patented and which are better protected by copyright, trade secrets or contracts," he said, calling for clearer and more consistent guidelines.

He added that the respective rights and responsibilities of developers, model providers and users, as well as the extent of human contribution in AI-assisted research and development and content creation, also need to be more clearly defined.

At the same time, Liu cautioned against equating patent numbers with technological competitiveness.

"What really matters is whether patents cover core technologies, can be reliably enforced, are filed internationally, and can be turned into actual products and revenue," he said.