WIPO China: IP Commercialization Accelerates High-Quality Development in Greater Bay Area

The 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Intellectual Property Trade Expo and International Geographical Indications Products Trade Expo (GBAIP), jointly organized by the Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration, the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, was held in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City on December 9th. WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying delivered a video congratulatory speech for the forum opening. Lu Pengqi, Deputy Commissioner of China National Intellectual Property Administration, Xiao Yafei, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, Lai Zhihong, Deputy Mayor of Guangzhou, Thomas CS TSANG, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department, and Chan Tze Wai, Deputy Director of Macao Economic and Technological Development Bureau, each delivered opening speeches. The expo's theme was: IP Transformation and Commercialization to Promote High-Quality Development in the Greater Bay Area.

In her speech, Wang Binying pointed out that the world is undergoing profound changes. While economic development faces challenges, technological innovation continues to thrive, with China demonstrating extraordinary innovative strength. The Greater Bay Area's performance is particularly outstanding. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster ranks second globally, excelling in both research paper publications and patent applications. The Macao SAR-Zhuhai science and technology cluster achieved a major breakthrough this year, entering the global top 100 science and technology clusters for the first time. Last year alone, Guangdong's innovators filed over 28,000 international patent applications through WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), accounting for 10% of global PCT applications and 40% of China's total applications. Four companies from the region ranked among the top 15 global PCT applicants.

Wang Binying believes that with the growth in IP applications, quality issues and the ability to transform IP applications into actual products and services have become challenges to address. Innovation models are rapidly evolving, with digital innovation increasingly integrating with industrial innovation. This means we can no longer view intellectual property rights as isolated legal islands, but rather as portfolios of intangible assets that companies use for growth and nations use for development. This is why the theme of this expo, " IP Transformation and Commercialization to Promote High-Quality Development in the Greater Bay Area," is so timely and important.

She expressed hope to continue close cooperation with various stakeholders in the Greater Bay Area to develop and strengthen IP transformation and utilization, benefiting innovative enterprises seeking growth. Through our joint efforts, we will strive to support the Greater Bay Area in becoming a global model for innovation and creation, working together to create a sustainable future.

In his speech, Lu Pengqi fully affirmed the achievements in intellectual property cooperation within the Greater Bay Area. Guangdong is a major province in terms of economy, manufacturing, and intellectual property. As of the end of October this year, the province held 775,700 valid invention patents and 8.919 million valid trademark registrations, ranking first among Chinese provinces for 14 and 29 consecutive years respectively. The cumulative PCT applications reached 299,500, ranking first nationally. The province's patent and trademark pledge financing reached 243.99 billion yuan, up 83.3% year-on-year, benefiting 3,920 enterprises.

Thomas CS TSANG stated that this conference would strengthen cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, continuing to enhance IP creation and industrialization in the Greater Bay Area, promoting the sustainable development of innovative economy, brand economy, and cultural economy, and driving the bay area toward higher quality development.

Liu Hua, Director of WIPO China Office, attended the opening ceremony and visited Foshan. During her visit to Foshan, Liu Hua visited Ji Hua Laboratory and HITrom Han's Robot Smart Manufacturing City. She praised Ji Hua Laboratory's full-chain management of IP utilization and achievement transformation, and was impressed by HITrom Han's Robot Smart Manufacturing City's industrial resource concentration and innovative product applications, noting it has become a successful case of specialized park development.