An invention & innovation competition at colleges and universities, jointly hosted by Hainan Provincial Intellectual Property Office, Provincial Department of Education, Provincial Department of Science and Technology and Provincial League Committee, is to kick off. Colleges and universities are mobilizing young teachers and students to take part in the event. 24,000 applicants from 11 colleges and universities including Hainan University, Hainan Medical College and Hainan Normal University have entered the competition, including 226 teachers and 23,774 students. As of March 21, 80 works have been recommended to the competition office after preliminary assessment and selection, including 17 inventions, 21 utilities and 41 designs from 116 students.

The competition was launched in November 2011 and the registration will end on March 23, 2012. Colleges and universities in Hainan undertook a variety of mobilization programs. Hainan University subsidized each recommended work with 1,000 to 3,000 yuan. The competition office will organize experts to conduct selection and public review and present awards to winners in April when IP Publicity Week opens. [Chinese version is available on sipo.gov.cn]

(Source: IPR in China)