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‘Innovation is shifting to East’ as China amasses patents: official

  • Applications to recognise inventions rise 30 per cent last year, agency says
  • The country is seeking to turn itself into an intellectual property powerhouse

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China is seeking to transform itself into an intellectual property powerhouse. Photo: Shutterstock

China approved about 700,000 patents for inventions last year, a 30 per cent increase compared to a year earlier, according to the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

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Administration head Shen Changyu said on Sunday that a total of 696,000 invention patents were authorised in 2021, an average of 7.5 of high-value patents per 10,000, or nearly double the ratio for 2017.

“China performed well in many segmented indicators … It indicates that China is transforming from an intellectual property importer to a major creator of intellectual property,” Shen said.

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“It indicates the global geography of innovation is shifting to the East.”

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