Director General Daren Tang Pointed Out that the Protection and Commercialization of IP Rights Has Now Become A Means of Improving Systems for Scientific and Technological Innovation

December 2, 2022

On November 30, Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), sent a congratulatory letter to the 11th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference.

Mr. Daren Tang pointed out that as IP and innovation move towards the center of economies in a globalizing and digitizing world, China has already put IP-driven innovation and creativity at the heart of its journey to modernization. From the 34th place 10 years ago, China is now on the threshold of entering the global top 10 of the Global Innovation Index (GII), at the 11th. China will accelerate the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, and the protection and commercialization of IP rights has now become a means of improving systems for scientific and technological innovation. These strategies align with the new strategic direction at WIPO.

Mr. Daren Tang stressed that China is a long-standing partner and strong supporter of WIPO and highlighted major progress in five cooperation areas with China this year.

First, China joined two key WIPO treaties earlier this year — the Hague Agreement, which helps designers obtain protection across countries, and the Marrakesh Treaty, which helps people who are blind or print disabled have greater access to books.

Second, Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have done well in the first-ever WIPO Global IP Awards. Two Chinese SMEs — Suzhou Raycan and Shanghai Shylon — were amongst the five winners of first-ever WIPO’s Global IP Awards.

Third, the GII 2022 receives great visibility and extensive coverage in China. This year, for the first time, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory letter to the GII Global Launch. Chinese stakeholders view GII as an objective and comprehensive measurement of innovation and as an important indicator for policy- and decision- making.

Fourth, WIPO Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service facilitates the business community in China with new route for resolving foreign-related IP disputes. WIPO began its arbitration and mediation services in Shanghai in 2019. This year, the number of courts referring cases for WIPO mediation expanded by nearly 50%.

Fifth, enhanced WIPO social media presences in China. In 2022, through WIPO Office in China, WIPO has leveraged new social media platforms (Baidu’s Baijiahao, ByteDance’s Toutiaohao and Douyin) in addition to Tencent’s WeChat in bringing IP message to a wider range of audience. The nearly 120 articles published this year have registered almost 7 million views.

Mr. Daren Tang mentioned that next year marks an important milestone, as we celebrate 50 years of cooperation between WIPO and China. He reaffirmed WIPO’s continued commitment to working closely together with China and looks forward to another 50 years of fruitful collaboration.

About the 11th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference

On November 30, the 11th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference was opened online. Dr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the CNIPA, Mr. Hu Guangjie, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, and Mr. Wu Qingwen, Mayor of Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, were invited to deliver opening speeches via video. Mr. Liu Liange, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank of China, Mr. Zhao Yuliang, Director General of National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China (WOC), Mr. Song Liuping, Senior Vice President of Huawei, and Mr. Wang Xiang, President of Xiaomi Group delivered the keynote speeches. This Annual Conference was hosted by the Intellectual Property Publishing House. Attendees discussed in depth IP topics in key areas including the digital economy, financial technology, biomedicine, and mobile communications.