In recent years, due to enhanced patent dissemination and education, the public enthusiasm of creation and invention has been fuelled up, leading to a huge growth momentum of patent applications in Wuzhou, a city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Patent filings in the city increased to 288 in 2011 from 147 in 2010 and 121 in 2009, according to a local official in charge of intellectual property. In a bid to maintain the growth momentum and stimulate innovations, the Interim Measures of Wuzhou City on Administration for Patent Subsidies and Awards thereof issued recently, stipulating that awards and subsidies rendered to patent applicants will be substantially increased.

Subsidies will rise from 800 yuan per application to 2500 yuan per application for those who authorize a patent agency to file patent submissions. A person who attends and passes the national examination for patent agents and works as a patent agent for at least two years in Wuzhou will obtain a one-time monetary support worth 5,000 yuan.

An applicant whose invention is granted a national patent will be awarded with 2,000 yuan for each grant, and if he/she obtains an international grant on his/her invention, he/she will be rewarded with 3,000 yuan per grant.

The annual top three invention patent applicants including enterprises, institutions and individuals will earn a bonus of 5,000 yuan, 3,000 yuan and 2,000 yuan respectively.

From this year, the city sets up a special honor for entities whose invention patents are commercialized and industrialized with great economic output and social influence, after a close scrutiny by experts and ratified by the municipal government, they will be honored with a certification as well as a subvention of 50,000 yuan.

(Source: IPR in China)