China’s Intellectual Property Push: A Nation Forged in Innovation

China is intensifying its focus on intellectual property (IP) rights, aiming to become a global powerhouse in technology and innovation. This strategic shift is underscored by the recently implemented 2025 Intellectual Property Nation Building Promotion Plan and demonstrable progress during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). The nation’s efforts encompass legal reforms, increased patent filings, and a drive to commercialize research and development.

The 2025 Plan: Accelerating IP Development

In May 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) unveiled the 2025 Intellectual Property Nation Building Promotion Plan. This plan builds upon the Outline for Building a Powerful Intellectual Property Country (2021-2035) and the National Intellectual Property Protection and Utilization Plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan, outlining key tasks for 2025. These tasks include revising laws and regulations, such as the Trademark Law, and issuing recent guidelines, like those concerning standard-related patent policies. The overarching goal is to “accelerate the construction of a powerful intellectual property country.”

Key Achievements During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025)

The 14th Five-Year Plan period has witnessed significant advancements in China’s IP landscape. As of June 2025, the country held 5.01 million valid domestic invention patents, a 13.2% increase year-on-year. Ownership of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people reached 15.3. The number of valid registered trademarks totaled approximately 48.96 million, a 6.6% year-on-year increase.

Industrialization of Patents

China is actively promoting the transformation and industrialization of patents. The industrialization rate of enterprise invention patents rose from 44.9% in 2020 to 53.3% in 2024. A substantial portion of invention patents are held by domestic enterprises, with 524,000 enterprises possessing valid invention patents as of June 2025. These enterprises collectively hold 3.7 million valid invention patents, representing 74.4% of the national total – a 6.1 percentage point increase compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). This progress aligns with the fact that enterprise R&D investment constitutes three-quarters of China’s total social R&D investment.

Looking Ahead

China’s commitment to strengthening intellectual property rights signals a broader ambition to drive innovation and technological advancement. The ongoing implementation of the 2025 Plan and continued focus on patent commercialization are expected to further solidify China’s position as a leading force in the global IP landscape.