WIPO China：Harnessing IP to Drive Innovation and Global Collaboration

Beijing, March 7, 2025 – The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China (WOC) hosted a roundtable on "Leveraging Intellectual Property to Promote Enterprise Innovation and Development" in Beijing. Representatives from government departments, industry organizations, universities (Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University), and enterprises including Huawei, Xiaomi, Alibaba, and BOE gathered to discuss how to utilize intellectual property to drive enterprise innovation and address opportunities and challenges brought by global technological transformation.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China, pointed out that the world is currently experiencing two major waves of innovation—digital and deep science. This technological transformation is reshaping industrial landscapes, changing how humans live and work, and making intellectual property a focal point of international competition.

She emphasized that China has become a significant pole in the global innovation landscape, with nearly 70,000 PCT patent applications in 2024, maintaining its global leading position. "Phenomenon-level" technological breakthroughs such as DeepSeek are propelling China to the global forefront in fields including AI, large models, semiconductors, and biopharmaceuticals. China's ranking in the Global Innovation Index has steadily improved, with 26 top science and technology clusters, surpassing the United States to rank first globally. As AI, advanced manufacturing, and other frontier fields rapidly develop, the WIPO Office in China will further deepen cooperation with China, promote international intellectual property service systems such as PCT, Madrid, and Hague, help enterprises optimize global intellectual property layouts, and enhance international competitiveness. She particularly encouraged Chinese enterprises to actively participate in the 2025 WIPO Global Awards (application deadline: March 31), using intellectual property as an engine to accelerate innovation outcomes going global and showcase China's solid strength in scientific and technological innovation.

Voices of Participants

At the roundtable, experts and professionals from diverse fields shared their insights and experiences in IP and innovation.

Mr. Han Peng, Deputy Director-General of the First Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasized that enterprises are the primary entities for technological innovation. The country is accelerating the implementation of innovation-driven development strategies and building an innovation system centered on enterprises, market-oriented, and integrating industry, academia, and research. He introduced the Ministry of Science and Technology's measures to support enterprise innovation through preferential policies to reduce costs and increase efficiency, guide venture capital, and other initiatives. He also pointed out that intellectual property protection is key to stimulating innovation, and the Ministry will continue to strengthen IP development to boost the growth of technology enterprises.

Mr. Sun Xudong, Counselor of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, analyzed changes in the global innovation landscape, noting that scientific and technological innovation has become a focus of international competition. China supports WIPO in playing an active role in the global intellectual property arena and promoting international IP development. He highly commended the WIPO Office in China for its contributions to exchanges on frontier technologies in intellectual property and disseminating China's innovation stories.

Mr. Wang Huadong from the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology emphasized that intellectual property is central to enterprise innovation and development. The Ministry of Science and Technology will implement various support measures to help enterprises enhance IP awareness and protection capabilities, encourage more Chinese enterprises to establish a global market presence, and strengthen international competitiveness.

Mr. Dong Songgen, Vice President of the China International Cooperation Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, shared the association’s experience in promoting IP protection and utilization among SMEs, stating that it supports enterprises to participate in the 2025 WIPO Global Awards to enhance their international influence.

Ms. Wang Wenjing, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Patent Protection Association, introduced the association’s efforts in promoting patent transformation and establishing pilot platforms, stating that it will continue providing patent information services to universities and enterprises to drive achievement transformation.

Mr. Wu Dongping, Vice President of the China Trademark Association, emphasized the importance of trademarks in enterprise internationalization, outlining the association’s work in trademark applications, protection, and promoting mutual recognition of geographical indications between China and abroad, expressing hope for enhanced exchange and cooperation with the WIPO Office in China.

Mr. He Zhenfu, Vice President of the China Association of Inventions, highlighted achievements in honoring inventors, organizing exhibitions, and participating in international events, expressing willingness to continue cooperation to promote global exchange of Chinese invention achievements.

Mr. Wu Dajian, Vice President of the All-China Patent Agents Association, reviewed the development of China’s patent system, noting that the patent agency industry supports enterprise innovation and calling for stronger industry development and training of professional talent.

Mr. Wang Ale, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Development Department of Peking University, shared Peking University’s experience in full-chain IP management, stating that the university is embedding IP into the entire process of research and innovation to promote achievement transformation.

Mr. Cui Guobin, Director of the Intellectual Property Law Research Center of Tsinghua University, analyzed transformations in the global IP order, suggesting multi-party collaboration on case studies to provide guidance for enterprises.

Mr. Yan Hao, Executive Director of the Technology Transfer Center of Zhejiang University, shared Zhejiang University’s achievements in patent applications and transformation, introducing supportive policies in Zhejiang and Hangzhou, and stating continued efforts to enhance enterprises’ IP protection capabilities.

Mr. Cheng Shun, Head of the AI and Cloud Technology Intellectual Property Department of Huawei, shared practices in using AI to improve IP management efficiency, expressing willingness to collaborate in advancing AI applications in the IP field.

Mr. Liu Chao, Legal Director of Xiaomi Group, introduced Xiaomi’s global patent and trademark layout, emphasizing increased R&D in smart terminals and automobiles while promoting IP awareness across the supply chain.

Mr. He Chenqi, Vice President of Public Affairs of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, shared Alibaba Cloud’s Tongyi large model and open-source strategy, stating continued use of IP tools to protect AI transformation outcomes.

Mr. Su Jing, Intellectual Property Director of BOE, introduced the company’s patent achievements in semiconductor displays, noting ongoing expansion of global layouts in additional innovative fields.

Mr. Yu Yan, Patent Director of the Legal Compliance and Intellectual Property Department of JD.com, outlined JD’s technological transformation and overseas IP layout, mentioning further exploration in large model technology.

Mr. Zheng Yansong, General Manager of the Beijing Intellectual Property Operation Company of Zhongguancun Development Group, shared Zhongguancun’s full-chain service model, emphasizing IP’s core value for Science and Technology Innovation Board enterprises.

Mr. Shi Yilun, Chairman of Beijing Zhiyu Medical Technology Co., Ltd., shared experiences from winning the 2024 WIPO Global Award, noting increased visibility and funding opportunities, and calling for more IP guidance and support for SMEs.

Mr. Zhou Yong, Manager of the Intellectual Property Department of CATL, introduced the company’s patent layout in new energy, stating efforts to establish IP operations in the sector to address international competition.

Mr. Tu Hongwen, Patent Consultant of Tencent, shared innovative practices in AI, stating continued efforts to advance technology innovation and application.

Mr. Li Tianshuo, Legal Manager of iFLYTEK, introduced achievements from speech technology to the Spark large model, emphasizing breakthroughs in independent innovation with domestic computing power.

In her concluding remarks, Ms. Liu Hua stated that IP is a critical area supporting global innovation today. The WIPO Office in China will continue promoting WIPO’s global IP services in China, supporting Chinese enterprises in telling their innovation stories. She called for collective efforts to build an open and inclusive IP ecosystem, providing strong support for high-quality economic and social development.