23 cities including Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Chengdu, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Jinan, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Harbin, Nanjing, Nantong, Zhenjiang, Fuzhou, Dongying, Dalian, Yantai, Luoyang, Quanzhou, Wenzhou, Xi’an and Wuhu were determined as the first batch of national IPR demonstration cities of China, announced by Tian Lipu, Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) on April 27.

These demonstration cities thoroughly improved their IPR ability and explored effective ways for IPR-driven innovation. They not only exerted leading role in the region, but also collected experience in implementing National IPR Strategy and impelling IPR cause.

The evaluation indexes for IPR demonstration cities this time included governmental investment, IPR output, IPR use, IPR protection and IPR environment as well as city innovative measures and outstanding outcome. It is informed that IPR demonstration cities have totaled 104 in China now.

Tian Lipu pointed out that according to the latest statistics released by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), in 2011, PCT applications in China ranked the fourth in the world with an increase of over 30%, showing the enhancement of the IPR awareness of the public and the improvement of enterprises’ innovative capability.

(Source: IPR in China)