Driving Innovation with IP, a Way Out in the Post-pandemic Era

April 23, 2022

On April 22, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China (WOC) and China Intellectual Property News (CIPN) co-hosted the 2022 High-level Forum on China IP Protection in Beijing. Mr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) gave a keynote speech. Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WOC, delivered a video speech. 

How to build back better and achieve sustainable development in the post-pandemic era? And how to stand out in the new round of technological and industrial revolution? Ms. Liu Hua pointed out that innovation, creation and IP will be the key. In 2020, the total value of intangible assets reached an all-time high of USD 65.7 trillion, accounting for 54 percent of all global listings. The volumes of international applications handled by WIPO Global IP Systems over the last 10 years have grown by at least 60 percent. They reflected the growing investments in innovative and creative industries and the increasing importance of protecting these investments through IP.

IP is becoming a powerful policy tool to create jobs, attract investments, support business competitiveness, and ultimately contribute to growth and developments. Ms. Liu said that WIPO’s GII 2021 indicates the global innovation center is shifting eastward to Asia and China has established itself as a leading innovation powerhouse. She expected that China would share its best practices on top level design, rule of law, holistic protection and IP commercialization with the world, looking forward to the Chinese wisdom for the building of a balanced and effective global IP ecosystem in close cooperation and partnership with WIPO.

Ms. Liu said that China’s accession to the Hague System and the Marrakesh Treaty are of milestone significance. WIPO will continue to provide support to ensure the smooth implementation of the two treaties, helping Chinese enterprises better participate in global competition through Hague system, and providing easier access to copyright works to more than 17 million blind and visually-impaired people in China.

In his speech, Mr. Shen Changyu said that China has made great achievements in IP protection through the top-designs, the Institutional building and the international cooperation. He emphasized the improvement of legal systems, and the coordination and collaboration among departments and Provincial regions to promote the balanced and equal IP protection.

Under the theme of “Beef up IP protection in an all-around way to optimize innovation and business climate”, the Forum was held in a hybrid form and established 56 online branch venues across China. Mr. He Xiaorong, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court, Mr. Gong Ming, full-time member of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate procuratorial committee at the vice-ministerial level, and Mr. Yin Yong, Vice Mayor of Beijing, attended and addressed the Forum. Representatives from Peking University, Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province, Kuaishou and Qualcomm delivered speeches regarding the construction of IP Powerhouse, the IP protection for Beijing 2022, the scientific and technological innovation, and the improvement of business environment.