China’s intellectual property sector expanded significantly last year, with double digit growth in annual patent filings, according to Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). The number of annual applications for invention patents topped 1.38 million in 2017, a 14.2% rise on the previous year. The number of international filings from China via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) jumped 12.5% to 51,000 last year, compared with 2016. Shen said China has developed a batch of core technologies in such sectors as telecommunications, aerospace, aviation, high-speed trains and nuclear energy.

SIPO established a comprehensive strategic partnership with the European Patent Office (EPO) and signed 52 bilateral and multilateral agreements in 2017. It is also involved in the collaboration in patents and industrial designs with EPO and the patent offices in the United States, Japan and South Korea. “Our goal for 2020-35 is to develop China into an IP powerhouse and enable IP to become a robust engine to drive the country’s innovation,” Shen said. In 2017, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Changsha, Suzhou and Shanghai’s Xuhui district were named pilot areas for comprehensive IP reforms. To date, 13 provinces and 14 cities have rolled out IP development plans, with SIPO’s support.

“We have made remarkable achievements in various IP areas over the past five years,” Shen said. These achievements included strong new policies and legislation and initiatives in protection, management, international cooperation and infrastructure. Punitive damages of up to three times a complainant’s losses were introduced to the draft of the revised Patent Law, which is awaiting the green light from the central government to be enacted, the China Daily reports.