26 enterprises in Yichang are going to receive more rigorous assessments to stay in the list of high-tech enterprises, according to information released by Yichang Municipal Science and Technology Bureau on June 3.

Enterprises that are willing to smoothly pass the re-check shall have effectively transformed their indigenous patents in actual production procedures or have filed their intellectual property rights that were not generated by their independent researches in the State Intellectual Property Office.

It was learnt that high-tech enterprises could be awarded various types of honors much easier than others, making them eligible to enjoy preferential policies with respect to tax payment.

According to relevant requirements, the qualifications of the high-tech enterprises must be re-examined every three years, therefore, of the total 55 high-tech enterprises recognized by Yichang as of now, 26 enterprises that were identified in 2008 have to be re-checked this year.

These 26 enterprises have already enjoyed about 240 million yuan worth of tax benefit in 3 years.

This time, the authorities will conduct the assessments in accordance with several indicators, such as intellectual property rights, patent transformation, R & D management status, total assets and sales revenues; besides, they will also focus on R & D investment ratios and sales income generated by high-tech products.

The requirements stipulate that enterprises which generate no more than 50 million yuan sales revenues have to spend 6% of their revenues in R & D; those whose sales revenues are between 50 million yuan and 200 million yuan should invest no less than 4% of their revenues; and if the sales revenues exceed 200 million yuan, enterprises must contribute 3% of their revenues to R & D; moreover, the revenues generated by high-tech products should account for over 60% of the enterprises' annual revenues.

These 26 enterprises must provide relevant materials via the internet (www.innocom.gov.cn), such as certifications of their intellectual property rights, financial reports and special audit reports. They are also required to deliver the above materials in written form to the municipal science and technology office before the end of June.

The vigorous review could help to promote the indigenous innovations in enterprises, stimulate their enthusiasms in R & Dand regulate their financial activities.

(Source:IPR in China)