Source: China IP News

According to the latest statistics released by China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the first half of 2019 witnessed a steady increase in published patent applications in countries along the Belt and Road. The quality of granted patents from China maintains a high level while technical fields and industrial structures of national economy involved keep upgrading. Coming towards us, Belt and Road partners also have their shares of growth in patent applications and grants. 

As revealed, 3,125 patent applications filed by China in these countries in the first half of this year were published, 13 more than the same period last year while patents granted registered at 1,558. According to the indicators displaying patent strength, the average number of claims of these granted patents is 14.8 and the average number of members of these patent families is 12, manifesting the solid quality of these granted patents from China and Chinese companies' refined desire in strategically mapping their quality patents overseas.  

Also in the first half, computer, telecommunications and other electronic equipment manufacturing pace all technical fields in number of patent applications published, followed by instrument manufacturing, chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing, software and information technology services and general equipment manufacturing (2nd to 5th). All the top-10 ranked industries except repair of metal products, machineries and equipment and repair of automobiles, electronic products and day-to-day products  fall into IP-(patent)-intensive industry except , bolstering the quality  and quantity of China's export to these countries. 

The most prolific Chinese users in the Belt and Road countries are the usual suspects, Huawei, OPPO, Ping An Technology (Shenzhen) Company, Midea Group and BOE Technology Group (1st to 5th).

On the flip side, also in the first half of 2019, the number of patent applications from countries along the Belt and Road entering China is 11,683, up 3%; 40 countries are on the record, three more than 2018. At the same time, the number of patent grants in China is 8,029, up 16.2%. Both the growth of patent applications and grants reflect that the improving business environment in China is earning the nod from partners along the route.