The annual patent applications of Changsha, capital city of Hunan Province, reached 13,122 in 2011, exceeding 10,000 for the first time and increasing by 44.7%; 5,980 filings were granted, of which, 1,764 were for invention patent; living patents for every 10,000 people amounted to 8.5, three times higher than the national average (2.2 among every 10,000 people), reported from a directors' meeting in the municipal intellectual property office on February 16.

Aiming to strengthen IP creation, Changsha has been actively supporting patent tycoons and also enterprises with no patent by employing IP creation mentors and adopting "one-to-one" helping mode, successfully facilitating 107 small and medium-sized enterprises in securing their first-ever patents. 

Last year, 5,161 applications were filed for invention patents in Changsha, up 40.6%, accounting for 40% of the city's gross filings, while international filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty reached 385, ranking 1st among capital cities across the country and 2nd among all capital and sub-capital cities (only second to Shenzhen).

The city's 2011 rating for enterprises and institutions in patenting activities was also released. Zoonlion and Sany Group respectively ranked first in terms of patent applications and grants, while Central South University topped the academic list of filings & grants for both general and invention patents. [Chinese version is available on hnrb.voc.com.cn]

(Source: IPR in China)