China is making significant strides in safeguarding innovation by speeding up its patent application review process. With the world’s highest number of patents, the country’s latest data from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) shows that the average examination time for invention patents has dropped to 15.6 months as of October.
This impressive efficiency brings China closer to its 2025 goal of reducing the examination time to 15 months. Just last year, the review time was cut to 16 months, already surpassing major IP powers like the U.S., Europe, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
China boasts 4.66 million valid invention patents, becoming the first country to exceed 4 million in late 2023. Since 2019, China has led as the top source of international patent applications worldwide.
By accelerating patent authorization, Chinese enterprises can quickly protect their innovations, shielding them from imitation and infringement by competitors. This move is crucial for meeting the demands of the new technological revolution and industrial transformation.
China is also focusing on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, gene technology, quantum information, and biomedical sciences. Heng Fuguang, a spokesperson for CNIPA, highlighted these efforts at a recent press conference where he outlined China’s ambition to become a global IP powerhouse.
International collaboration is a key component of this strategy. China has established fast-track patent grant programs with 33 countries and regions, including the U.S., Germany, France, and Japan. These programs facilitate the sharing of examination processes, further speeding up patent approvals.
To support innovators nationwide, China has set up 123 national IP centers. These centers handled 98,000 cases in the first three quarters of this year alone, with an average processing time of under two weeks. This initiative provides businesses with a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective way to protect their intellectual property rights.
Reference(s):
China expedites patent review process to improve innovation protection
cgtn.com
