In 2020, China's comprehensive IP development index improved to 304.7 (100 in 2010), with a compound annual average growth rate of 11.8. Since the implementation of its national IP strategy, China has achieved palpable results, and the building of IP powerhouse moves one step, according to the 2020 Evaluation Report on China's IP Development issued by the IP Development and Research Center (IPDRC) under the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Given the current progress, the goal proposed by the Outline of National IP Strategy that by 2020 China would evolve into a relevantly established force in IP creation, utilization, protection and management has been accomplished.

    Marked development of domestic infrastructure

    "One change standing out is the growth rate (13%) of the national IP protection index outrunning indices of creation (11.5%), utilization (10.3%) and environment (12.2%), which may epitomize the dividends paid by China's efforts in IP protection," said Lei Yi, an associate professor at the IPDRC.

    Thanks to a series of initiatives China put in place, IP protection has been strengthened in an all-around way. In recent years, CNIPA has been implementing the Guideline on Strengthening IP Protection and its relevant action plan, coordinating and bolstering strict, comprehensive, fast and impartial protection in addition to having built 40 IP protection centers, 22 rapid IPR enforcement centers and more than 100 IP mediation and arbitration institutions. During the 13th Five-Year Plan, the social satisfaction on IP protection increased from 72 points to 80 points. China's ranking rose form 29th to 14th in the Global Innovation Index, and climbed to 31th in the Doing Business 2020 report.

    "The investment in R&D increased by 0.79 percentage points from 2008 to 2019 in China, and companies were more likely to invest in R&D. In parallel, the proportion of sizable Chinese companies who have filed patent applications and their export and import of IP royalties all increased significantly, indicating the truly positive role of IP protection in inspiring innovation. Protection is exacting a direct impact on investment on innovation," Lei added.

    Growing influence in international community

    For years, what China did in IP is broadly recognized globally. In 2019, China ranked first in PCT international filings while the added-value of patent-intensive industry amounted to 11.5 trillion yuan, up 7% year on year.

    The report also reveals that China is exerting growing influence internationally. Among the 40 sampled countries being compared, China's ranking rose from 17th in 2015 to eighth in 2019, and IP development index increased from 67.08 in 2018 to 69.15 in 2019. Since the implementation of the strategy, China has expanded international cooperation, involved itself immensely in multilateral affairs within the framework of World Intellectual Property Organization. IP has become an indispensable part of Chinese diplomacy.

    In recent years, China has taken major steps in international IP cooperation and exchanges, coordinated the promotion of multilateral, neighboring and bilateral IP cooperation. The first and second High-Level IP Symposiums for Countries along the Belt and Road Initiative were held in China. China firmly promotes cooperation in the IP5 (China, the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea), the BRICS, China-ASEAN, China and Africa, and has established the patent prosecution highways (PPH) with 30 countries and regions. The IP management standard in the process of innovation formulated by China was approved for publication by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

    "The report is a collection of official data on IP, which has reflected the overall IP development and effectiveness in China for many years, showcased the role of IP in promoting socio-economic development, and displayed the trending of China's IP system. It could be a reference for the country to find a way to develop a quality IP system," the report wrote. Reviewing the development process of the implementation of the strategy, China's IP system has developed rapidly, and IP creation, protection, utilization and influence over the international community have been significantly improved. China has embarked on an IP journey with its own characteristics and laid a solid foundation for developing the country into a established IP powerhouse.

    Source:China IP News