Blueprint: Need for more IP professionals and centers

2010/04/14

A plan approved at a central government inter-ministerial conference in March aims to improve the quality of professionals and build national training centers to advance the national intellectual property strategy adopted in 2008.

The blueprint also calls for further creation and support for intellectual property as well as enhanced legislation and expanded international exchanges.

Implementation of the nation's intellectual property strategy requires a great number of experts and specialists in fields ranging from the judiciary, trade, business management, education and research, insiders said.

"Nurturing professionals plays a pivotal role in providing support in human resources and as a guarantee for the sustainable development of intellectual property in China," said Tian Lipu, commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).

There are now more than 30,000 professionals working in intellectual property fields nationwide.

In recent years at least 3 million people have received instruction from central and local intellectual administrations, but colleges and universities remain the major training ground.
SIPO now cooperates with the Ministry of Education to organize six annual training sessions for intellectual property academics in an effort to improve the quality of instruction.

Intellectual property is usually studied as a major at law schools in China, but the issues faced in actual work often require a diverse educational background. 
                                                                                                 Source: China Daily