WIPO China: Innovation through Intellectual Property - WIPO's Role in High-Quality Development

The opening ceremony of the 21st Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum, jointly organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and Shanghai Municipal People's Government, was held in Shanghai on December 4. WIPO Director General Daren Tang delivered a video address to the forum, while Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu delivered opening remarks.

In his video address, Mr. Tang pointed out that Shanghai has grown into a global hub for science and technology, known for its advanced industries and thriving business environment. The city is home to more than 24,000 enterprises in critical sectors like AI, biomedicine and chips, while also boasting close to 40 unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion), ranking 6th globally.

Mr. Tang further emphasized that these impressive achievements are built on strong foundations: a top-tier financial sector, world-class infrastructure, exceptional talent, and a sharp focus on research and development. He recalled that during his official visit to Shanghai last year, he personally witnessed these strengths and had the pleasure of supporting this important forum in person.

Mr. Tang particularly mentioned that Shanghai was the first Chinese city to sign a WIPO cooperation agreement in 2014. In the field of IP arbitration and mediation, the WIPO Shanghai Center, which celebrated its fifth anniversary this year, achieved a significant breakthrough by accepting and successfully mediating its first foreign-related IP arbitration case in July. He noted that after celebrating 50 years of WIPO-China relations last year, this year marks the 30th anniversary of China's accession to WIPO's PCT system, and he looks forward to continuing close and meaningful collaboration in the years to come.

 

Mr. Gong and Mr. Shen respectively emphasized that intellectual property (IP) serves as an important institutional and technical support for encouraging innovation, expanding openness, and promoting development. Shanghai has consistently prioritized IP work, committed to creating a world-class IP protection environment, advancing open cooperation, and supporting the functional upgrade of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Center. Meanwhile, China has become the first country in the world to surpass 4 million valid domestic invention patents, and through implementing special actions for patent transformation, continues to empower the development of new quality productive forces, enabling innovation achievements to better benefit people worldwide.

WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying, JPO Commissioner Ono Yota, and KIPO Commissioner Kim Wan Ki attended the opening ceremony and delivered keynote speeches respectively on WIPO IP service system supporting global innovation development, IP promoting the development of innovative technologies represented by artificial intelligence (AI) and accelerating the establishment of an IP system adapted to the development of AI and new technologies. WIPO Chief Economist Carsten Fink delivered a keynote speech on the GII Top-100 Science and Technology (S&T) Clusters. Regarding policies to promote S&T clusters, he suggested leveraging existing capabilities, investing in human capital and scientific research to support local innovators, fostering connections within S&T clusters as well as linkages with other clusters to integrate into global innovation networks, and creating more attractive living conditions for talent.

On the afternoon of December 4, the main forum roundtable themed "WIPO Global Service System Empowering China's High-quality Development" invited several experts, including WIPO Chief Economist Carsten Fink, WIPO Senior Director of Madrid Registry David Muls, Director of WIPO China Office Liu Hua, Director of WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center Ignacio de Castro, and Vice President & Global Development Head of WESTWELL Sun Chi. They engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including how to help SMEs leverage WIPO's global service system for growth, the Madrid system's enhancement of city brand competitiveness, latest developments in WIPO arbitration and mediation services, WIPO's "Five Golden Keys" supporting China's innovation development, and how Chinese enterprises can utilize WIPO service systems to promote global development. The sub-forum on the afternoon of December 5, themed "IP Services Illuminate New Quality Productive Forces", featured WIPO experts further exploring opportunities and challenges in the global IP system, elaborating on the development of the Madrid system and WIPO arbitration and mediation services in China, as well as how the Hague system assists in global protection of Chinese designs.