China became the first country in China where the number of valid invention patents exceeded 4 million —— Intellectual property data mapped China’s economic vitality.

According to the data released by China National Intellectual Property Administration on January 16th, by the end of 2023, the number of effective invention patents in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) was 4.015 million, up by 22.4% year-on-year, and China became the first country in the world with the number of effective invention patents exceeding 4 million. According to relevant sources, through the data of intellectual property rights in 2023, we can see that the innovation activities of enterprises remain active, the innovation in the digital economy is strong, and new consumption growth points such as "trendy products" of domestic products are accelerating, and China’s economic vitality continues to generate.

High-value invention patents account for more than 40%

On January 16th, Hu Wenhui, deputy director of China National Intellectual Property Administration, introduced at the press conference held by the State Council Office that it took 31 years for the effective number of invention patents in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) to reach the first 1 million, and it only took one and a half years to break through the fourth 1 million. Among the more than 4 million valid invention patents, high-value invention patents account for more than 40%. China has become a veritable intellectual property power, and continues to make important contributions to global innovation and development.

From the perspective of enterprises, by the end of 2023, there were 427,000 enterprises with effective invention patents in China, an increase of 72,000 over the previous year. Domestic enterprises have 2.909 million valid invention patents, accounting for 71.2%, exceeding 70% for the first time, and the status of innovation subject is further highlighted.

In terms of fields, according to the statistics of 35 technical fields classified by the World Intellectual Property Organization, by the end of 2023, the top three technical fields of effective invention patents in China were information technology management methods, computer technology and basic communication programs, which increased by 59.4%, 39.3% and 30.8% respectively year-on-year, far higher than the domestic average growth level. "This shows that China has maintained a high degree of innovation in the field of digital technology and continued to empower and increase efficiency for the high-quality development of the digital economy. Hu Wenhui said.

From the regional perspective, by the end of 2023, the effective number of invention patents in Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area were 1.308 million, 703,000 and 672,000 respectively, accounting for 65.6% of the domestic total, up 21.1%, 21.0% and 23.2% respectively, and the leading role of innovation in key areas was remarkable.

Hu Wenhui said that China National Intellectual Property Administration will continue to improve the quality and efficiency of examination, vigorously promote the transformation and application of patents, accelerate the realization of patent value, better stimulate the innovation vitality of the whole society and help high-quality economic and social development.

The annual output value of geographical indication products exceeds 800 billion yuan.

According to the data of China National Intellectual Property Administration, in 2023, 13 geographical indication products were approved, and 201 geographical indications were registered as collective trademarks and certification trademarks. 5,842 business entities approved to use special geographical indications.

Hu Wenhui introduced that by the end of 2023, China had approved a total of 2,508 geographical indication products, and 7,277 geographical indications were registered as collective trademarks and certification trademarks, with a total of 26,000 business entities specializing in geographical indications and an annual output value of geographical indication products exceeding 800 billion yuan.

With the continuous development in China, China’s geographical indication products have accelerated their entry into the international market and are favored by more overseas consumers. Wen Guo, Director of the Intellectual Property Protection Department of China National Intellectual Property Administration, said that this year is the third year since the signing of the Agreement on the Protection and Cooperation of Geographical Indications between China and Europe. Since the entry into force of the agreement, many products have been selected into the list of mutual recognition and mutual protection of geographical indications between China and Europe, and the mutual recognition and mutual protection products have won the reputation and affirmation of European consumers for their unique quality characteristics. For example, after Liuyang Fireworks was listed as a product of mutual recognition and mutual insurance, the export volume climbed year after year, reaching 7.06 billion yuan in 2023, accounting for 19% of its total output value, setting a new high.

"The international popularity of China’s geographical indication products is getting higher and higher." Wen Guo said that the number of enterprises that approved the use of special geographical indications has quadrupled to 73 since the wine at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain was selected into the mutual recognition and mutual insurance list. The wines of more than 60 wineries in the producing areas have won more than 1,100 awards in various international wine competitions, and their products are exported to more than 40 countries and regions.

Cultivate new consumption growth points such as domestic products "trendy products"

Hu Wenhui said that the development of "fashionable goods" of domestic products is inseparable from the all-round assistance of intellectual property rights, especially the need to make good use of the trademark system to strengthen brand protection and realize brand value. China National Intellectual Property Administration has thoroughly implemented the trademark brand strategy, vigorously promoted the trademark brand construction, and helped to cultivate new consumption growth points such as "fashionable goods" of domestic products.

-Strengthen policy support. Taking the construction of "a thousand enterprises with thousands of standards" and "a hundred cities with hundreds of products" and trademark brand guidance stations as the starting point, we encourage local and enterprises to strengthen trademark brand construction, support the innovation and upgrading of traditional brands, and actively cultivate emerging brands. Recently, the first batch of 1,105 enterprise trademark brands and 285 regional trademark brands were approved to participate in the trademark brand value promotion action of "Thousands of Enterprises and Hundred Cities", and China National Intellectual Property Administration will give guidance and support in enhancing the trademark brand ability and brand value.

-Improve the service level. Promote the construction of more than 3,900 trademark brand guidance stations nationwide, with an average annual service of more than 400,000 enterprises. We will continue to promote trademark pledge financing to benefit enterprises. In 2023, the national trademark pledge financing amount reached 176.91 billion yuan, up 63.5% year-on-year, which helped enterprises effectively alleviate the financial difficulties in the process of brand development.

-Strengthen brand protection. We will continue to push forward the revision process of the Trademark Law, strengthen the protection of legitimate prior rights of trademark brands and well-known trademarks, conscientiously guide foreign-related intellectual property disputes when domestic products go out to sea, resolutely crack down on all kinds of behaviors such as being next to famous brands, hitchhiking and rubbing hot spots, and boost the confidence of brand development and the sense of gaining business entities.

Hu Wenhui said that China National Intellectual Property Administration will continue to promote the brand value promotion of "Thousands of Enterprises and Hundreds of Cities" to help form more influential national brands and internationally renowned brands, create more "fashionable products" of domestic products and expand the scale of brand consumption. (Reporter Qiu Haifeng)