According to data released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), China has signed intellectual property cooperation agreements with 57 BRI countries. Since 2013, China has held more than 50 training programs for BRI countries, training over 1,300 intellectual property professionals from these countries. Additionally, 230 students from more than 50 countries have been enrolled in the "Belt and Road" Intellectual Property Master’s Degree Education Program. China has also sent experts to over 10 countries and international organizations for exchanges and training, supporting intellectual property capacity building in BRI countries.

BRI Countries Grant Over 35,000 Patents to Chinese Enterprises

Statistical data shows that from 2013 to 2023, Chinese enterprises filed 70,000 patent applications and were granted 35,000 patents in BRI countries and related organizations, maintaining an annual growth rate of over 20%. Among Chinese enterprises filing patents in BRI countries, companies in the digital communication and internet sectors stood out. The top five companies in terms of cumulative applications were Huawei (7,766), Xiaomi (2,909), Alibaba (2,563), ZTE Microelectronics (2,510), and Tencent (2,365).

From 2013 to 2023, BRI countries filed 285,000 patent applications and were granted 182,000 patents in China, with annual growth rates of 5.6% and 8.0%, respectively. By the end of 2023, the number of valid patents held by BRI enterprises in China reached 153,000, with an annual growth rate of 9.0%, surpassing the average growth rate of foreign-held valid patents in China by 4.1 percentage points.

From 2013 to 2023, China was granted 27,000 invention patents in the core industries of the digital economy by BRI countries and related organizations, with an annual growth rate of 16.9%. BRI countries were granted 55,000 patents in the core industries of the digital economy in China, with an annual growth rate of 11.6%. Digital technology innovation has strongly supported the digital transformation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

From 2016 to 2023, China filed 3,637 and was granted 1,664 green and low-carbon invention patents in BRI countries and related organizations, with annual growth rates of 26.0% and 21.3%, respectively. From 2020 to 2023, these rates further increased to 65.4% and 49.6%. Among the top five companies in green and low-carbon patent applications and grants were traditional energy companies like Sinopec, as well as new energy and electric vehicle companies such as CATL and BYD, alongside digital communication companies like OPPO and Huawei, reflecting the trend of integrated innovation in digitization and green technologies.

71 Overseas IP Dispute Response Centers Established

The CNIPA has taken various measures to help enterprises strengthen overseas intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, achieving positive results.

First, the work system has been further improved. CNIPA has established 71 overseas IP dispute response sub-centers across 29 provinces (regions, municipalities) in China, as well as five overseas sub-centers. It has set up four industry-specific sub-centers for key areas, providing professional and public overseas IPR protection guidance to local enterprises. Nearly 1,000 specialized training sessions have been organized, training 370,000 participants and helping businesses enhance their awareness and capability in overseas IPR protection. The expert pool for overseas IP dispute response has been expanded, with 119 experts selected at the national level and more than 1,800 experts selected locally. In the first half of 2024, 166 overseas IP dispute cases were guided.

Second, the response mechanism has been strengthened. A comprehensive mechanism for proactively monitoring, timely alerting, and guiding responses to overseas IP disputes has been established. A trademark overseas squatting monitoring system has been improved, utilizing multi-dimensional methods such as publishing annual monitoring reports, issuing trademark squatting alert letters, and targeted monitoring based on enterprise application information to alert companies to potential risks. A cross-border e-commerce IPR case monitoring system has also been set up, where national or local sub-centers provide relevant information to the enterprise’s local sub-center upon detection, ensuring a timely and precise response.

Third, the supply of information has been enhanced. Through the "Zhinan Zhen" National Overseas IPR Information Service Platform, information is continuously updated and released. In the first half of 2024, IPR information for 14 countries was published. The platform now has over 24,000 users. Policy guidance has been strengthened with the compilation of 16 national IPR guides, cross-border e-commerce IPR protection guides, and trademark protection guides for key countries. Local authorities have compiled 48 IPR guides for various countries and regions, and original information has been strengthened on hot topics such as trade secrets and standard-essential patent licensing.