Yunnan Province saw its patent applications and grants hit historic high with 50,000 and 30,000 as of the end of last year. Valid patents reached 13,683.

Yunnan Provincial Intellectual Property Office increased supports to service inventions, key industry sectors and emerging industries and guided enterprises, colleges and universities and scientific research institutions to develop intellectual property rights during technological innovation and knowledge innovation. In 2011, patent applications and grants recorded 7,150 and 4,199, up 26.7% and 9.8% over 2010.

Patent filing presents four features as follows:

Patent applications keep rapid increase, with an annual increasing rate of 18.1% for five years. Applications broke the record of 7,000 last year.

Patent applications get structurally optimized. The proportion of inventions and utility models increased to 83.5% in 2011 from 80.5% in 2010.

The leading role of enterprises as IPR-based innovation players is increasingly obvious. Enterprises contributed 40% of service patent applications. Patent applications filed by Hongta Tobacco, Hongyun Honghe, Yunnan Electric Power, Kunming Iron and Steel, Yunnan Titanium and a number of large and medium-sized enterprises maintain steady growth.

Patent applications centered around certain areas. Last year, 88.7% of patent applications came from 6 prefectures and cities including Kunming, Yuxi, Honghe, Qujing, Dali and Chuxiong. Patent application in Kunming amounted to 4,577. 

(Source: IPR in China)