The number of patents filed in China last year rose 17.9 percent to nearly 980,000 applications, a reflection of "significant progress in the country's capacity for innovation", Liao Tao, director-general of the General Office of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) said at a recent press conference.

Domestic applications rose by 22.4 percent year-on-year, slightly higher than the growth rate of 22.3 percent in 2008, and accounted for 89.9 percent of the total.

Domestic companies filed by far the largest proportion of applications, more than 81 percent of all patent requests submitted.

Since the central government initiated a national intellectual property strategy, helping companies develop core technologies and sharpen their edge in innovation have been top priorities of authorities at various levels, according to SIPO.

Rising awareness in Chinese businesses about the importance of intellectual property protection has brought a surge in patent applications, the office said.

In the face of the avalanche in applications, authorities increased staff and overhauled methods to enhance efficiency.