Patent push aimed at improving innovation
China plans to increase its number of high-value invention patents to at least 22 per 10,000 people over the next five years, underscoring its growing innovation capabilities and stronger incentives for creativity, according to officials from the nation's top intellectual property regulator.
The target for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) is an increase of more than six from the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), said Liang Xinxin, head of the Strategic Planning Department of the China National Intellectual Property Administration.
As of the end of June, China had 2.36 million high-value invention patents, or 16.8 per 10,000 people, Rui Wenbiao, deputy head and spokesperson of the administration, said at a news conference in July.
"The steady increase in high-value patents is a clear sign of China's ever-improving innovation strength," Rui said.
Liang said that including "high-value invention patents per 10,000 people" as a key indicator in China's national economic and social development plan highlights the country's strategic focus on innovation-driven growth and the development of new quality productive forces.
While emphasizing the importance of increasing the number of patents, Liang stressed that maintaining quality is crucial.
"We aim to develop invention patents in strategic emerging industries such as next-generation information technology and new energy. We also intend to maintain patents that have been in force for more than 10 years and those that have won national awards, to continuously boost innovation momentum," he said.
More than 70 percent of China's high-value invention patents are currently in strategic emerging industries, Liang said, adding that the share is expected to grow in the coming years, providing strong innovation support for quality growth in new fields and the strategic development of future industries.
Both officials highlighted the critical role of high-value invention patents in fostering creativity and driving sustainable, high-quality economic development.
Data released by the administration in July showed that China granted 453,000 invention patents and registered more than 2.05 million trademarks from January to June. It also identified 64 geographical indication products and issued 5,061 integrated circuit layout design registration certificates.
The figures indicate a steady improvement in the quality of China's IP creation, Rui said, adding that efforts to protect innovators have also been strengthened.
For example, two new national-level IP protection centers and six fast-track dispute resolution centers were approved for construction in the first half of the year, bringing the totals to 83 and 54, respectively.
"These centers help establish a well-structured, category-based IP rapid protection network with clear goals, offering comprehensive services such as efficient review, rights verification and legal protection for innovators in local competitive industries," said Guo Wen, head of the administration's IP Protection Department.
She said the protection centers cover all strategic emerging fields and are expanding into future areas, ensuring that "IP protection follows innovation wherever it goes".
The fast-track dispute resolution centers focus on county-level specialty industries and foreign trade-oriented sectors, aiming to facilitate the rapid authorization of design patents and address local cases, she said.
"The establishment of these centers helps curb counterfeiting within industrial clusters, regulate market competition, and support the transformation and upgrading of traditional county-level industries through innovation," Guo said.
She added that both types of centers will continue to be developed and improved over the next five years to streamline collaborative IP protection, align with major national strategies, boost innovation in key areas, and drive high-quality economic and social development.
