Driving Green Sustainable Development with IP, a Way Out in the Post-pandemic Era (II)

April 28, 2022

On April 25, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of WIPO Office in China (WOC) attended and addressed the Theme Event of World IP Day 2022 entitled "City, Youth, and Innovation, IP Accelerates Global Green Development" in Beijing, together with Mr. Liu Jian, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Mr. Pan Xinsheng, Deputy Director General of the Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office (BMIPO) and Ms. Zhang Yulei, Deputy Director General of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (BMSTC) and Zhongguancun Science Park Management Committee (ZSPMC).

Liu Hua pointed out that although the world is full of uncertainties in the midst of a century of great changes and pandemics, the rising role of intellectual property rights in restoring the economy and promoting sustainable development is certain. In recent years, the world's economies and enterprises have paid more attention to the use of intellectual property rights to protect the outcome of innovation. In 2020, the value of global intangible assets, with patents, trademarks, designs and other intellectual property rights as the core, exceeded that of tangible assets and has reached 65.7 trillion USD, accounting for 90% of global business value and 54% of the global listing.

Liu Hua said that IPR provides an important guarantee for green innovation and sustainable development. Currently, China is actively implementing roadmap and plans for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, which is highly compatible with WIPO's goal of encouraging green innovation and promoting sustainable development. She highlighted the WIPO GREEN, a platform which helps connect providers and seekers of green technologies and promotes the innovation and dissemination of green technologies worldwide. WIPO GREEN lists more than 120,000 technologies, needs and experts and has more than 130 partners, eight of which are from China.

Liu Hua pointed out that youth are indispensable for promoting green innovation and building a green future. WIPO is committed to helping young people pursue their dreams through IP, and this year's World Intellectual Property Day also focuses on IP for Youth: Innovating for a Better Future. Ms. Liu emphasized that Chinese youth have great potential in building an innovative country and achieving green development. China has become an important pole in the global innovation map, and Beijing has shown great potential in innovation and creativity. At the same time, China is actively promoting green and low-carbon development, and has made important achievements in carbon emission reduction and energy structure transformation. The WOC will continue to optimize its services, focus on the role of young creators and innovators in green innovation, and use IP to help build a low-carbon city and achieve green development.

Mr. Liu Jian, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department of CNIPA emphasized that with the increase of non-traditional security threats such as pandemics, it is more important to play the role of IP in the construction of the global governance system, actively participate in multilateral affairs under the framework of WIPO, and contribute to the construction of the global IP ecosystem.

Mr. Pan Xinsheng, Deputy Director General of BMIPO said that young people have great potential for innovation, and the majority of them should actively participate in the construction of Beijing's international IP powerhouse and make their own contributions; openness and inclusivity are Beijing's unique genes, and Beijing will deepen cooperation with WIPO to improve the level of IP governance in Beijing.

Ms. Zhang Yulei, Deputy Director General of BMSTC and ZSPMC, pointed out that in the new round of scientific and technological revolution, scientific and technological innovation has become an important force in the strategic game, and scientific and technological innovation cannot be separated from the support of IP. Zhongguancun will further play the role of IP to promote the construction of Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center.

Mr. Peter Oksen, Senior Program Officer of the Global Challenges Division of WIPO, and Mr. Xie Hongxing, Director of the Zhongguancun Bluetech Clean Air Alliance (BCAA) introduced WIPO GREEN and the progress of the City Acceleration Project in Beijing. The event also organized an online signing ceremony for groups of green-tech providers and seekers who have reached cooperation intentions in the areas of electric bicycle battery safety management, organic waste treatment and real-time monitoring of motor vehicle exhaust.

Experts from the WOC and representatives of academia, industries and legal services delivered speeches and had discussions on Madrid system, Hague system, WIPO ADR services as well as the low-carbon technological development, transfer of green technology and protection of green IP.

This event is one of a series of activities to celebrate World IP Day and the fourth in a series of training events on "Innovation for a Green Future". The event was hosted by the WOC in collaboration with the BMIPO, BMSTC and ZSPMC, with assistance from the BCAA. In 2021, WIPO GREEN City Acceleration Project kicked off in Beijing. The first round collected 10 green-tech needs from Beijing and over 30 green technologies worldwide.